A case report of tumor lysis syndrome after stage-one ALPPS

RATIONALE: Tumor lysis syndrome is a potentially lethal condition caused by rapid cell death, releasing a high level of toxic cytokines. It is common in patients with hematological malignancy but rare in solid tumors. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 64-year-old patient presented to our unit with a 17.3-cm hepatocellular carcinoma and marginal liver reserve. The first-stage operation of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) was performed. DIAGNOSIS: The patient was found to be anuric with grossly deranged electrolytes after the first-stage operation. Tumor lysis syndrome was diagnosed. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for aggressive fluid administration and continuous venovenous hemofiltration for the management of tumor lysis syndrome. OUTCOMES: The patient recovered and then underwent the second-stage operation of ALPPS with extended right hepatectomy 8 days after the initial operation without any long-term sequelae. LESSONS: ALPPS is a relatively new technique in liver surgery, entailing an increased risk of tumor lysis syndrome due to an in situ tumor after the first-stage operation. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion regarding this potentially lethal complication with prompt management.