Background/aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the preoperative lidocaine test (MEGX) in cirrhotic patients who were candidates for curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methodology: To evaluate whether MEGX was related to postoperative complications, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 51 patients, in whom a preoperative lidocaine test was available. They were divided into two groups according to a MEGX value less (22 patients, group A) or more (29 patients, group B) than 25 ng/mL.
Results: The two groups of patients were comparable for the preoperative clinical parameters and the surgical procedures. Patients in group A had a significantly higher rate of postoperative complications (73% vs. 28%, p < 0.005) and a tendency to a longer hospital stay, compared to patients in group B.
Conclusions: The lidocaine value is an effective index of hepatic function. A preoperative MEGX value lower than 25 ng/dL in cirrhotic patients was related to a significantly higher risk of liver insufficiency and postoperative complications after hepatic resection.