Delayed Return of Gastrointestinal Function after Partial Hepatectomy: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Physiology
• Surgical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Partial hepatectomy (PH) is associated with significant complication rates (30-50%).
• Delayed return of gastrointestinal function (DRGF) impacts 10-20% of patients post-PH.
• Identifying DRGF predictors is crucial for improving patient recovery after PH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of DRGF after PH.
• To identify independent predictors associated with DRGF.
• To inform strategies for optimizing postoperative recovery in PH patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 501 adult patients undergoing PH between 2010-2019.
• DRGF defined as the need for postoperative nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion.
• Multivariable logistic regression used to identify independent DRGF predictors.

Main Results:

• DRGF occurred in 16% of patients, associated with longer hospital stays.
• Minimally invasive approaches showed significantly lower DRGF rates (4.5% vs. 19.8%).
• Independent predictors identified: longer operation duration, major hepatectomy, and postoperative biloma/biliary leak.

Conclusions:

• DRGF is a significant complication following PH, impacting 16% of patients.
• Longer surgery duration, major PH, and postoperative biloma/biliary leak are independent predictors of DRGF.
• These findings highlight critical factors for managing and potentially preventing DRGF post-PH.