Objective: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of major hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in patients with cirrhosis.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative findings in 42 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and in 102 patients with normal livers who underwent major hepatectomy for ICC.
Results: Preoperative liver function was worse in patients with cirrhosis compared to patients without cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher intraoperative blood loss, longer operation time, and longer hospital stay than non-cirrhotic patients. However, the two groups had similar overall morbidity and hospital mortality rates and similar rates of liver failure or other complications. Their R0 resection rates, resection margin widths and disease-free survival rates were also similar.
Conclusions: Major hepatectomy for ICC can be performed in selected cirrhotic patients with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates, as compared to patients without cirrhosis.