The Role of Somatostatin in the Hemodynamics of the Hepatic Circulation in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection

The purpose of the present clinical trial is to study the effect of somatostatin in the regulation of blood flow of the portal circulation at patients who have undergone hepatectomy. The patients will be randomized in two groups, namely the group that will receive somatostatin (study group) and the group that will receive the placebo (control group). In both groups, patients will undergo liver resection and directly postoperatively they will receive either somatostatin (2 amps at 1000ml normal saline solution in continuous 24-hour infusion for 5 days) or a 24 hours infusion of 1000ml Normal Saline solution 0.9%. On the first, third, fifth and seventh postoperative day, the velocity and the diameter of the portal vein, splenic vein, hepatic artery and hepatic veins will be measured sonographically and the flow will be calculated using the following mathematic formula: Flow= velocity x cross section area (the cross section area of the vessel can be calculated using the following equation: cross section area=πr2, with 'r' representing the vessel's radius). Preoperatively On the day before the surgery (day -1),an ultrasound will be performed in order to measure the velocity and the diameter of the portal vein, splenic vein, hepatic artery and hepatic veins and the flow will be calculated using the following mathematic formula: Flow= velocity x cross section area, as stated above. The following data will also be recorded: platelets, bilirubin (total and direct), albumin, cholesterol, urea, International Normalized Ratio, sodium, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase, Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase, Alkaline Phosphatase, gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score of each patient will be calculated. Finally, our patients will undergo a Computer Tomography scan in order to measure their liver and spleen volumetry. On the day of the surgery On the day of the surgery (day 0), the following information will be recorded: the type of the surgical procedure, the duration (in minutes), the presence of ascites, the number of times and total duration of the a pringle maneuver and finally the percentage of the resection of the parenchyma will be calculated. A biopsy of healthy liver tissue will be sent for histological examination in order to determine the presence of fibrosis/cirrhosis and its stage. Postoperatively On the first, third and fifth postoperative day (day 1, 3, 5), the preoperative blood test and the ultrasound measurements will be repeated and the amount of fluid in the drain(s) and inside the abdomen (via ultrasound) will be recorded. Finally, the fluid will be sent for biochemical examination and culture. On the seventh postoperative day (day 7) all blood, fluid and ultrasound measurements will be repeated and also the liver and spleen volumetry via CT.