Objective A retrospective analysis of the influences of platelet (PLT) counts on liver failure and liver regeneration in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provides a treatment strategy for clinical prevention and treatment of postoperative liver failure and residual liver regeneration.
Method The clinical data of 111 patients with a background of hepatitis B virus infection and who underwent (expanded) half liver resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from June 2012 to June 2017 were collected and statistically analyzed.
Results On the basis of the International Study Group of Liver Surgery liver failure-grading standards and Dino–Clavien postoperative complication criteria, the incidence of grade B and above liver failure was 55%, and complication II level and above was 47.5% in the PLT decline group after semihepatectomy. The incidence rates in the normal group were 26.8% and 23.9%. A statistically significant difference was determined in the two groups (P1=0.003, P2 = 0.011). The average volumes of liver hyperplasia (residual liver volume (RLV)80.4 days − RLV) in the PLT decline and normal groups were 132.09 ± 61.89 cm3 and 190.89 ± 91.98c cm3, respectively; the average rates of hyperplasia ((RLV80.4days−RLV)/RLV) were 16.59%± 7.36% and 24.78% ± 10.82%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (PProliferation = 0.001, PProliferation rate = 0.001). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses of postoperative liver failure grade and proliferation rate in patients who underwent semihepatectomy suggested that the decrease in postoperative PLT count (PLT < 125 × 109/L) might be an independent risk factor of severe posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) (PHLF-B or above) and residual liver regeneration rate for patients with primary HCC after half liver resection. No death occurred.
Conclusions A correlation existed between PLT count and postoperative PHLF or liver regeneration. Monitoring PLT counts after liver resection may help us predict the suffering from PHLF-B or above and severe postoperative complications.