Surgical intervention in the setting of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis may exacerbate liver injury.
OBJECTIVE
This study compares postoperative markers of liver injury in patients receiving intravenous fish oil (IFO) with parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated cholestasis (PNAC) to patients with resolved PNAC.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all cholestatic-IFO patients undergoing abdominal laparotomy between March 1, 2007, and July 1, 2009, led to inclusion of 23 patients who collectively underwent 27 abdominal operations (13 pre-PNAC resolution and 14 post-PNAC resolution). Direct bilirubin (DB), total bilirubin, and alanine aminotransferase levels were examined over time in relation to operations. The time to resume presurgical trend of decreasing DB was calculated.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine percent (9/13) of pre-PNAC resolution procedures were associated with postoperative increase in DB compared with 7% (1/14) of post-PNAC resolution procedures associated with a recurrence of cholestasis (P = .02; odds ratio, 29.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.79-306.8). The median time to return to the preoperative downward trend of DB was 21 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Operations before PNAC resolution may be associated with an increased postoperative DB, possibly reflecting an exacerbation of liver injury. Operations post-PNAC resolution on IFO had a comparatively low incidence of postoperative cholestasis recurrence. Excepting clinical indication otherwise, it may be advisable to delay surgical intervention in the setting of PNAC in certain cases.
Department of Surgery and The Vascular Biology Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Danielle A
DA
Arsenault
Alexis K
AK
Potemkin
Elizabeth M
EM
Robinson
Erica M
EM
Fallon
Al
A
Ozonoff
Vincent E
VE
de Meijer
Mark
M
Puder
D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D005395:Fish Oils; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin