[Postoperative liver failure after hepatic resections for hepatocellular carcinoma]

Postoperative liver failure is a life-threatening complication after hepatic resection. The purpose of this study was to review the liver failure as a result of hepatic resection and to propose strategy for decreasing the risk of its developing. From January 1991 to December 2000 73 patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) were operated and identified in a retrospective database. Seven (13.2%) of resected 53 patients developed postoperative liver failure. There were 4 male and 3 female with mean age 52.3+/-29.2 (from 1 to 78). 3 patients had underlying cirrhosis. Major resections were 5 and minor--2. Mean hemotransfusion was 1012, 13 ml (370-2000 ml). Five patients (71%) died by the 30th day. The causes of liver failure were analyzed, based on both the preoperative data and the intraoperative findings. Significant prognostic factors were the preoperative serum level of bilirubin (p=0.024) and intraoperative hemotransfusion (0.031). The right hemihepatectomy was a prevalent hepatic resection in these patients.