Motivation: To prevent post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) it is essential to assess liver function in the future liver remnant prior to surgery, currently volumetric measurement is used as a surrogate for liver function. Goal(s): We aimed to investigate if regional metabolic liver function could be assessed non-invasively. Approach: We used hyperpolarized 1-13C pyruvate MRI to quantify regional metabolic changes following partial portal vein ligation in pigs. Results: Results demonstrated higher pyruvate to lactate in the future liver remnant compared to the deportalized liver (P=0.002). Impact: Hyperpolarized MRI can quantify regional metabolic liver function and may be utilized to assess liver function preoperatively to predict patients in risk of PHLF.
Kjærgaard et al. (Tue,) studied this question.