Retrospective study of predictive factors for postoperative complications of hepatectomies lasting 12 or more hours

OBJECTIVES: Hepatectomy is used to treat several liver diseases, although perioperative mortality and postoperative complication rates remain high. Given the lack of relevant studies to date, the present study aimed to investigate potential predictive factors for postoperative complications in patients undergoing hepatectomies lasting 12 or more hours (termed “extremely long hepatectomies”). METHODS: Adult patients undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) after extremely long hepatectomies at Fujita Health University Hospital between 2014 and 2017 were enrolled in the study. Postoperative complications were classified as “major complications” and “non-major complications” according to the Clavien–Dindo Classification grading system. We also divided our study population into “simple hepatectomy” and “non-simple hepatectomy” subgroups for further analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 114 patients (Major Complications Group, n=44; Non-Major Complications Group, n=70) were enrolled. In the Simple Hepatectomy Group, there were no significant variables. In the Non-Simple Hepatectomy Group, female sex (odds ratio [OR], 13.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.81×10(2); p=0.04) and lactate levels at ICU admission (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.99–2.59; p=0.05) were independent factors associated with major postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: In the Simple Hepatectomy Group, there were no significant variables. In the Non-Simple Hepatectomy Group, female sex and lactate levels at ICU admission of patients who underwent extremely long hepatectomies may be independent factors associated with major postoperative complications.