title: Hypothermia predicts hepatic failure after extensive hepatectomy in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of hypothermia on the function of the liver remnant (LR) after extended hepatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a 75% partial hepatectomy (PH) in male C57BL/6J mice. Body temperature was measured with a rectal probe. The study mice were prospectively grouped as hypothermic (HT) or normothermic (NT) if their body temperature was < 34 °C vs ≥ 34 °C, respectively. Blood and liver samples were obtained at 24 and 48 h after 75% PH. Various factors during and after 75% PH were compared at each time point and the most important factor for a good outcome after 75% PH was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 24 and 48 h after 75% PH, LR weight was decreased in HT mice compared with that in NT mice and the assay results in the HT mice were consistent with liver failure. NT mice had normal liver regeneration. Each intra- and post-operative factor which showed statistical significance in univariate analysis was evaluated by multivariate analysis. The most important factor for a good outcome after 75% PH was body temperature at both 24 and 48 h after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypothermia after an extensive hepatectomy predicts impending liver failure and may be a useful clinical marker for early detection of liver failure after extended hepatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Norifumi Ohashi, Akimasa Nakao, Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Tomohide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uemoto
authors.forename: Sura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jermanus
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Akimasa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Justin H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
keywords: Hepatectomy; Hypothermia; Liver failure; Mortality; Predictor