Natural history of portal vein embolization before liver resection: a 23-year analysis of intention-to-treat results

PVE was not followed by hepatectomy in 34% of our patients. Biliary tumors displayed the higher dropout rates after PVE and the higher chances of tumor progression preventing curative resection. Although PVE may be performed with acceptable morbidity, PVE-related complications prevented curative resection in 5% of patients. Careful multidisciplinary selection is crucial to avoid PVE overuse in technically resectable patients who will experience a not negligible risk of futile use and non-therapeutic laparotomy.