Morbidity and mortality after major hepatic resection in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Major hepatic resection was carried out on 23 adult patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and underlying cirrhosis of the liver (macronodular in six cases, micronodular in 11 and mixed type cirrhosis in six). Pre-operative liver functional state was Child's class A in 19, class B in three, and class C in one. The operations performed were extended right lobectomy in four patients, right lobectomy in 10, left found in 10 patients, five of whom had duplicated complications and finally died of liver failure 15-65 days after operation. In three of those five patients, other complications (hemorrhagic shock in two and portal thrombosis in one) had preceded liver failure. Eighteen patients tolerated the resection and were discharged from hospital. However, among 13 noncirrhotic patients with HCC who had undergone major hepatic resection during the same period of time, only two had postoperative complications and all patients were discharged from hospital. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates in the 23 cirrhotics were 60.9%, 37.5% and 24.9% respectively, whereas the 1-5-year survival rates were all 61.5% in the 13 noncirrhotics. Thus, major hepatic resection may be indicated in selected patients with HCC and associated cirrhosis, but meticulous managements during and after operation are mandatory to prevent fatal postoperative liver failure.