Background: Postoperative hepatic insufficiency is a critical complication after extended hepatic resection in patients with biliary tract malignancies, the majority of whom suffer from obstructive jaundice. The aim of this study was to assess clinical parameters linked to this type of liver dysfunction.
Methods: A total of 111 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patient background, pre- and intraoperative parameters, and a ratio of remnant liver volume/entire liver volume (RLV/ELV) as a volumetric parameter were compared between patients with and without postoperative hyperbilirubinemia and subsequent fatal outcome.
Results: Logistic regression indicated that only RLV/ELV ratio was an independent factor influencing postoperative hyperbilirubinemia, and RLV/ELV ratio and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (ICG-R15) were factors affecting survival. Patients with RLV/ELV less than 40% had 7.6 times the risk of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia, while no patients with RLV/ELV greater than 40% and ICG-R15 less than 25% died of liver failure.
Conclusions: The RLV/ELV ratio was the factor with the greatest impact on liver dysfunction after extended hepatectomy in patients with biliary tract malignancies.