Factors related to pleural effusion following hepatectomy for primary liver cancer.
BACKGROUND
Pleural effusion frequently complicates hepatectomy and multiple factors contribute to its development following hepatectomy for primary liver cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these factors.


METHODS
From March 2003 to May 2005, 228 consecutive patients with primary liver cancer underwent hepatectomy in our department were evaluated retrospectively to identify factors related to postoperative pleural effusion.


RESULTS
Among the 228 patients, postoperative pleural effusions arose in 58 (25.4%). Univariate analysis showed significant differences in postoperative ascites, subphrenic collection, Pringle manoeuvre length, drainage amount on postoperative day 1, albumin level on postoperative day 7, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level on postoperative days 1 and 3, prealbumin level on postoperative days 3 and 7, and tumor size (P<0.05). Ordinal regression analysis revealed that subphrenic collection, drainage on postoperative day 1 and ALT plus prealbumin on postoperative days 1 and 3 were statistically significantly related to postoperative pleural effusion (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Subphrenic collection and operative injury to the liver appeared to be significantly related to pleural effusion after hepatectomy for primary liver cancer.
Chu
Kai-Jian
KJ
Department of Oncology Comprehensive Treatment, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China. lingbei51@yahoo.com.cn
Yao
Xiao-Ping
XP
Fu
Xiao-Hui
XH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors