Improved Outcomes Following Resection of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A 27-Year Experience

Resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. We sought to evaluate surgical outcomes following resection of pCCA over time.

Patients who underwent curative-intent resection with hepatectomy for pCCA at a single institution were divided into two cohorts based on date of resection: past cohort (1996-2013), and recent cohort (2014-2023).

The study included 100 patients: 55 (55%) in the past (1996-2013) and 45 (45%) in the recent (2014-2023) cohorts. There were no differences between cohorts in age, sex, or Bismuth-Corlette classification between the two cohorts. Preoperative cholangitis was less common in the recent cohort (31% vs. 53%, p = 0.03). The proportions of right and left hepatectomies were similar in both cohorts. However, for patients with Bismuth-Corlette types I, II, and IV tumors (n = 35), left hepatectomy was more frequently performed in the recent cohort (61% vs. 13%, p = 0.005). There were trends toward lower rates of major complications (38% vs. 55%, p = 0.095) in the recent cohort. There was significantly less perioperative mortality (2% vs. 15%, p = 0.039) and no postoperative hepatic insufficiency in the recent cohort (0% vs. 20%, p = 0.001). Median recurrence-free survival was similar in the past and recent cohorts (29 vs. 37 months, respectively; p = 0.560), but median overall survival was improved in the recent cohort (33 months vs. not reached, p = 0.009).

Perioperative management to reduce preoperative cholangitis and liver insufficiency, advances in surgical technique, and consideration of left-sided hepatic resection have resulted in significantly improved outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy for pCCA.