Long-term survival after post-hepatectomy liver failure for colorectal liver metastases

Background

While post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) accurately predicts short-term mortality, its role in prognosticating long-term overall survival (OS) remains unclear.

Methods

Patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after portal vein embolization during 1999–2015 were evaluated retrospectively. PHLF was defined per International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) criteria and as _PeakBil >7 mg/dl. Survival was analyzed using log-rank statistic and Cox regression; patient mortality within 90 days was excluded.

Results

Of 175 patients, 68 (39%) had PHLF according to ISGLS criteria, including 40 (23%) with ISGLS grade B/C, and 14 (8%) had _PeakBil >7 mg/dl. Patients with _PeakBil >7 mg/dl had significantly worse OS than patients without PHLF (median OS, 16 vs 58 months, p = 0.001). Patients with ISGLS defined PHLF (p = 0.251) and patients with ISGLS grade B/C PHLF (p = 0.220) did not have worse OS than patients without PHLF.

Conclusion

Peak bilirubin >7 mg/dl impacts on long-term survival after hepatectomy for CRLM and is a better predictor of long-term survival than ISGLS-defined PHLF.