Development of Support System for Hepatectomy Considering Liver Regeneration

We developed support System for hepatectomy considering regeneration of the liver after resection. The liver model which consisted of numerous cubic compartments and reproduced three-dimensional structure of the liver was constructed from slice data of the liver measured with X-ray CT, MRI. Resection of clinical case was simulated on the computer, and the resection was reproduced on the model. Three parameters affecting regeneration in each compartment were considered ; 1) distance from the porta hepatis to the compartment, 2) metabolic acceleration around the resected plane, 3) metabolic compensation between lobes. These parameters were calculated from three-dimensional structure of the liver, and the three-dimensional distribution of regenerative ability in the model was obtained, Regeneration of the liver was then simulated three dimensionally based on the distribution. Result of simulation was compared with clinical data, and the error was admissible to simulations in the human body. Using our system, it become possible to determine, invasively and preoperatively, the adequate resection which give less damage and good recuperation to a patient.