A prospective study of the effect of terlipressin on portal vein pressure and clinical outcomes after hepatectomy: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND

Portal hypertension after hepatectomy is associated with impaired postoperative recovery. Terlipressin decreased portal vein pressure in patients with variceal bleeding and improved patient survival, but the role of postoperative terlipressin treatment for patients who underwent liver resection is not clear.

METHODS

We determined the effect of terlipressin on portal vein pressure in patients with portal vein pressure >12 mmHg after hepatectomy. If portal vein pressure was decreased (ie, Responders), a continuous infusion of terlipressin at 2 mg/day for 4 days was given. The incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure, abdominal drainage, acute kidney injury, operative complications, and side-effects of terlipressin in the Responders were compared with those whose portal vein pressure did not decrease (ie, non-Responders) and patients whose portal vein pressure was ≤12 mmHg after hepatectomy (low portal vein pressure group).

RESULTS

We recruited 110 patients, 65 of whom were eligible for terlipressin administration. Portal vein pressure decreased in 46 patients (71%) with the mean portal vein pressure decreasing from 15.8 ± 2.6 mmHg to 14.3 ± 2.9 mmHg (P < .001). The median [interquartile range] postoperative abdominal drainage for the first 3 postoperative days was less in the Responders than in the non-Responders (350 mL [228-573] vs 730 mL [330-980]; P = .004). Incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure in the Responders was less than the non-Responders (26% vs 53%, P = .04). Acute kidney injury, operative complications, and side-effects of terlipressin were not different between groups.

CONCLUSION

Terlipressin decreased posthepatectomy portal vein pressure and may decrease the incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure and postoperative abdominal drainage (NCT03352349).