Search

Post hepatectomy liver failure (PHFL) still represents a potentially fatal complication after major liver resection. Indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test represents one of the most widely adopted examinations in the preoperative workup. Despite a copious body of evidence which has been published on this topic, the role of ICG in predicting PHLF is still a matter of debate.A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to PRISMA-DTA guidelines. The primary outcome was the assessment of diagnostic performance of ICG in predicting PHLF. The secondary outcome was the mean ICGSeventeen studies, for a total of 4852 patients, were deemed eligible. Sensitivity ranged from 25% to 83%; Specificity ranged from 66.1% to 93.8%. ICG clearance test pooled AUC was 0.673 (95% CI: 0.632-0.713). The weighted mean ICGPreoperative ICG clearance test alone may not represent a reliable method to predict post hepatectomy liver failure. Its diagnostic significance should be framed within multiparametric models involving clinical and imaging features.