First intraoperative measurement of liver functional capacity during liver surgery using the 13 C-methacetin breath test: early results of a pilot study.

Highlight Postoperative liver failure remains one of the most dreadful complications of modern liver surgery. In search of a "real-time" measurement of liver functional capacity, Makridis and colleagues explored the intraoperative application of the 13C-methacetin breath test during major liver resection and report the preliminary results of this pilot study.