[Resection of hepatic colorectal metastases]

Between October 1986 and March 1995, 35 patients had hepatic resections because of metastases of colorectal cancer: 24 (68.6%) metastasectomies were carried out and 11 formal resections. The surgical morbility was 34.3% (12/35 patients) and the mortality 5.7% (2/35 patients). The medium hospitalization was 13.1 days (range: 6-68). The medium follow up of our population was 30.3 months. From the 33 evaluable patients (2 out of the 35 patients were discarded from the analysis for intraoperatory death) 21 relapsed. The medium disease free survival was 18.9 months; 19/33 patients died (all from progressive disease). The medium survival for the 33 patients was 26.6 months. The 5 years survival was 42.4%, comparable with other international series. We consider that factors related with the strict selection of the patients contributed to achieve these encouraging results. The multidisciplinary work (that made easier the selection of the better candidates for surgery) involving surgeons, anesthesiologists, oncologists, radiologists and internists, were made possible in a public hospital.