Background: Controversy exists as to whether selective biliary drainage (SBD) or total biliary drainage (TBD) is preferable as a preoperative procedure before extended hemihepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, especially with regard to the functional reserve of the future remnant liver.
Methods: SBD or TBD was performed after 1 week of total biliary obstruction in rats. In SBD, the biliary trees of the left lobes (approximately 70% of the liver) were kept obstructed, whereas the right lobes were drained selectively. Mitochondrial function and microsomal cytochrome content were examined before and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after drainage.
Results: The right lobes weighed significantly more after SBD than after TBD. There were no significant differences in mitochondrial function between the two groups. The microsomal cytochrome content per milligram of microsomal protein significantly decreased 1 week after biliary obstruction and then recovered to a similar extent after SBD and TBD in the right lobes. However, the total microsomal cytochrome content (nanomoles per 100 g body weight) and the overall rate of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthesis (mmoles per minute per 100 g of body weight) in the right lobes 4 weeks after SBD were significantly greater than those after TBD.
Conclusions: SBD is superior to TBD with regard to the functional reserve of the future remnant liver.