Textbook outcome after major hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma - definitions and influencing factors.

PURPOSE: The concept of "textbook outcome" (TO) as composite quality measure depicting the ideal surgical has not yet been defined for patients undergoing major hepatectomy (MH) for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). This study sought to propose a uniform definition through a systematic literature review as well as to identify patient- or procedure-related factors influencing TO. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed all patients undergoing MH for PHC at our department between January 2005 and August 2019. After conducting a systematic literature search, we defined TO as the absence of 90-day mortality and major complications, no hospital readmission within 90 days after discharge, and no prolonged hospital stay (<75. percentile). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing TO. RESULTS: Of 283 patients, TO was achieved in 67 (24%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative biliary drainage was associated with a decreased (OR= 0.405, 95% CI: 0.194-0.845, p=0.016) and left-sided-resection (OR= 1.899, 95% CI: 1.048-3.440, p=0.035) with increased odds for TO. Overall survival (OS) and DFS (disease-free survival) did not differ significantly between the outcome groups (OS: p=0.280, DFS: p=0.735). However, there was a trend towards better overall survival, especially in the late course with TO. CONCLUSION: Our analysis proposed a uniform definition of TO after MH for PHC. We identified left hepatectomy as an independent factor positively influencing TO. In patients where both right- and left-sided resections are feasible, this underlines the importance of a careful selection of patients who are scheduled for right hepatectomy.

A tailored approach in lymph node-positive perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Extended right hepatectomy is associated with wide surgical margins in PHC and often favored for oncological considerations. However, it remains uncertain whether established surgical principles also apply to the subgroup of node-positive patients. The aim of the present study was to define a tailored surgical approach for patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) and lymph node metastases. METHODS: We reviewed the course of all consecutive patients undergoing major hepatectomy for PHC between 2005 and 2015 at the Department of Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-one patients underwent major hepatectomy for PHC with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of 72%, 48%, and 36%, and 60%, 22%, and 12%, respectively. In lymph node-positive patients (n = 109, 47%), extended left hepatectomy was associated with improved OS and DFS, respectively, when compared to extended right hepatectomy (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003). Interestingly, OS and DFS did not differ between R0 and R1 resections in those patients (both p = ns). Patients undergoing extended left hepatectomy were more likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.022). This is of note as adjuvant chemotherapy, besides grading (p = 0.041), was the only independent prognostic factor in node-positive patients (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Patients with node-positive PHC might benefit from less aggressive approaches being associated with lower morbidity and a higher chance for adjuvant chemotherapy. Lymph node sampling might help to guide patients to the appropriate surgical approach according to their lymph node status.

Factors associated with failure to rescue after major hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A 15-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The management of complications after major hepatectomy in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma may not always be successful, leading to failure to rescue. The present study seeks to identify independent risk factors for failure to rescue after major hepatectomy in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the postoperative course of all consecutive patients who underwent major hepatectomy in a curative intent for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma between 2005 and 2019 at our department. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for failure to rescue. RESULTS: Of 287 patients, 186 (65%) had major complications (Dindo-Clavien grade ≥IIIa), of which 142 (76%) were grade IIIa to IVb (rescue group). Failure to rescue (FTR group, Dindo-Clavien grade V) occurred in 44 of 186 patients (24%). Age >65 years (odds ratio = 4.001, 95% confidence interval 1.025-15.615, P = .046) and right-sided resection (odds ratio = 17.040, 95% confidence interval 1.926 - 150.782, P = .011) were independently associated with failure to rescue. Preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels >100 kU/mL as well as preoperative chemotherapy appear to increase odds for failure to rescue as well; however, the association was short of statistical significance (P = .070 and .079, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients as well as patients undergoing right-sided hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma with high preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels are at high risk for failure to rescue. Thus, patients should be assessed critically preoperatively. Postoperatively, close monitoring, especially of patients who are at risk, is mandatory.