Smart phone application to increase safety in liver surgery

(Image: Pixabay CC0) - Surgical removal of parts of the liver remains the only curative approach for patients with liver-specific cancer. An international team led by Patrick Starlinger from MedUni Vienna has developed a score that provides an individualised risk assessment for patients prior to liver resection, which can significantly increase the safety of liver surgery. This score can be calculated using a simple smartphone app and, compared to standard preoperative tests, offers a cheaper and less invasive option with comparable or better predictive power for postoperative liver failure. The effectiveness of the score was confirmed in an international multicentre study with over 14,000 patients. Normally, the liver can tolerate the surgical removal of up to 75 percent of its volume and can maintain its functions after surgery. However, depending on the underlying chronic liver disease, the type of cancer or the extent of resection, patients may be at higher risk of inadequate postoperative liver regeneration or even postoperative liver failure, the main cause of mortality after liver surgery. As there is no treatment for this, a risk assessment before surgery is essential.