Postoperative infectious complications are associated with diminished overall survival of patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastases.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative infectious complications (PIC) remain one of the most common complications after surgery. The influence of PIC on long-term survival for patients after liver surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) needs further investigation. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM between 2012 and 2017 at the Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin were evaluated. Overall survival (OS) was stratified according to the development of PIC. Independent predictors of PIC and diminished survival were identified using regression models. RESULTS: Of 270 patients, eighty-four (31%) patients developed PIC including intraabdominal infections (n = 51, 61%), cholangitis (n = 5, 6%), pneumonia (n = 12, 14%), wound infections (n = 28, 33%), urinary tract infections (n = 5, 6%), or central line-associated bloodstream infections (n = 4, 5%). PIC were associated with a significantly diminished five-year OS (30% vs. 43%, p = 0.008). Age >65 years (p = 0.016, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-4.0), comorbidity (p = 0.019, HR [95% CI] = 2.4 [1.2-4.9]), simultaneous resection of primary tumor (p = 0.005, HR [95% CI] = 4.3 [1.6-11.9]), biliary drainage (p < 0.001, HR [95% CI] = 4.1 [2.0-8.5]), and length of procedure ≥272 min (p = 0.012, HR [95% CI] = 2.2 [1.2-4.1]) were independent predictors for the development of PIC. Body-mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 (p = 0.002, HR [95% CI] = 2.4 [1.4-4.0]), postoperative major complications (p = 0.003, HR [95% CI] = 2.2 [1.3-3.8]), and 3- or 4-MRGN bacteria (p = 0.001, HR [95% CI] = 7.7 [2.2-27.3]) were independently associated with diminished OS. CONCLUSIONS: PIC are associated with diminished OS after resection for CRLM. Age >65 years, comorbidities, simultaneous resection of the primary tumor, and biliary drainages were identified as independent risk factors for the development of PIC. High BMI, postoperative major morbidity and 3-/4-MRGN bacteria were independently predictive of worse OS. These factors need to be considered in perioperative management for patients with CRLM.

The role of hepatectomy for synchronous liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The role of hepatectomy for patients with liver metastases from ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PLM) remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survivals after liver resection for synchronous PLM. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of patients who underwent hepatectomy for PLM between 1993 and 2015 were assessed. Major endpoint of this study was to identify predictors of overall survival (OS). RESULTS: During the study period, 76 patients underwent resection for pancreatic cancer and concomitant hepatectomy for synchronous PLM. Pancreatoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and total pancreatectomy were performed in 67%, 25%, and 8% of the patients, respectively. The median PLM size was 1 (1-13) cm and 36% of patients had multiple PLM. The majority of patients (96%) underwent a minor liver resection. After a median follow-up time of 130 months, 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 41%, 13%, and 7%, respectively. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 50% and 5%, respectively. Preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy was administered to 5% and 72% of patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, type of pancreatic procedure (P = .020), resection and reconstruction of the superior mesenteric artery (P = .016), T4 stage (P = .086), R1 margin status at liver resection (P = .001), lymph node metastases (P = .016), poorly differentiated cancer (G3) (P = .037), no preoperative chemotherapy (P = .013), and no postoperative chemotherapy (P = .005) were significantly associated with worse OS. In the multivariate analysis, poorly differentiated cancer (G3) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-3.24; P = .026), R1 margin status at liver resection (HR = 4.97; 95% CI = 1.46-16.86; P = .010), no preoperative chemotherapy (HR = 4.07; 95% CI = 1.40-11.83; P = .010), and no postoperative chemotherapy (HR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.06-3.29; P = .030) independently predicted worse OS. CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection for PLM is feasible and safe and may be recommended within the framework of an individualized cancer therapy. Multimodal treatment strategy including perioperative chemotherapy and hepatectomy may provide prolonged survival in selected patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.