Improving perioperative outcome expands the role of hepatectomy in management of benign and malignant hepatobiliary diseases: analysis of 1222 consecutive patients from a prospective database.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the trends in perioperative outcome of hepatectomy for hepatobiliary diseases.


METHODS
Data of 1222 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatobiliary diseases from July 1989 to June 2003 in a tertiary institution were collected prospectively. Perioperative outcome of patients in the first (group I) and second (group II) halves of this period was compared. Factors associated with morbidity and mortality were analyzed.


RESULTS
Diagnoses included hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 734), other liver cancers (n = 257), extrahepatic biliary malignancies (n = 43), hepatolithiasis (n = 101), benign liver tumors (n = 61), and other diseases (n = 26). The majority of patients (61.8%) underwent major hepatectomy of > or = 3 segments. The overall hospital mortality and morbidity were 4.9% and 32.4%, respectively. The number of hepatectomies increased from 402 in group I to 820 in group II, partly as a result of more liberal patient selection. Group II had more elderly patients (P = 0.006), more patients with comorbid illnesses (P = 0.001), and significantly worse liver function. Nonetheless, group II had lower blood loss (median 750 versus 1450 mL, P < 0.001), perioperative transfusion (17.3% versus 67.7%, P < 0.001), morbidity (30.0% versus 37.3%, P = 0.012), and hospital mortality (3.7% versus 7.5%, P = 0.004). On multivariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum creatinine, major hepatic resection, and transfusion were the significant predictors of hospital mortality, whereas concomitant extrahepatic procedure, thrombocytopenia, and transfusion were the predictors of morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative outcome has improved despite extending the indication of hepatectomy to more high-risk patients. The role of hepatectomy in the management of hepatobiliary diseases can be expanded. Reduced perioperative transfusion is the main contributory factor for improved outcome.
Poon
Ronnie T
RT
Centre for the Study of Liver Disease and Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
Fan
Sheung Tat
ST
Lo
Chung Mau
CM
Liu
Chi Leung
CL
Lam
Chi Ming
CM
Yuen
Wai Key
WK
Yeung
Chun
C
Wong
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000601:surgery; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000150:complications; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003404:Creatinine