Liver cirrhosis and biliary surgery: assessment of risk

Operations on the biliary tract in cirrhotic patients are reported to have a higher than normal risk of operative morbidity and mortality. We reviewed 39 cases from two university-based hospitals over a five-year period. Each patient had biliary tract surgery and biopsy-proven cirrhosis. Eight patients died (21%), and major complications were found in 12 surviving patients (35%). Local and systemic sepsis was the major contributor, accounting for all of the deaths and 17 of the 22 (77%) complications among survivors. Choledochotomy was done in ten patients; three of them died (30%) and nine major complications occurred in the remaining five. Preoperative risk factors found to be predictive of this high morbidity and mortality were ascites (50% mortality, 50% morbidity), prolonged prothrombin time (29% mortality, 38% morbidity), and a serum albumin level of less than 3.5 mg/dl (33% mortality, 40% morbidity). The presence of other major systemic disease was not significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors. In 12 patients with no ascites and normal preoperative serum chemistry values, no deaths and only one minor complication occurred. We conclude that although biliary surgery in cirrhotic patients carries a high mortality, this risk can be assessed preoperatively. There appears to be a small subgroup of patients with cirrhosis and cholelithiasis who can have a favorable outcome. Operative therapy in these patients should be reserved for the complications of the biliary tract.