Symptomatic Perihepatic Fluid Collections After Hepatic Resection in the Modern Era

Abstract

BackgroundImprovements in liver surgery have led to decreased mortality rates. Symptomatic perihepatic collections (SPHCs) requiring percutaneous drainage remain a significant source of morbidity. Study DesignA single institution’s prospectively maintained hepatic resection database was reviewed to identify patients who underwent hepatectomy between January 2004 and February 2012. ResultsData from 2173 hepatectomies performed in 2040 patients were reviewed. Overall, 200 (9 %) patients developed an SPHC, the majority non-bilious (75.5 %) and infected (54 %). Major hepatic resections, larger than median blood loss (≥360 ml), use of surgical drains, and simultaneous performance of a colorectal procedure were associated with an SPHC on multivariate analysis. Non-bilious, non-infected (NBNI) collections were associated with lower white blood cell (WBC) counts, absence of a bilio-enteric anastomosis, use of hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP), and presence of metastatic disease, and resolved more frequently with a single interventional radiology (IR) procedure (85 vs 46.5 %, p < 0.001) more quickly (15 vs 30 days, p = 0.001). ConclusionsSPHCs developed in 9 % of patients in a modern series of hepatic resections, and in one third were non-bilious and non-infected. In the era of modern interventional radiology, the need for re-operation for SPHC is exceedingly rare. A significant proportion of minimally symptomatic SPHC patients may not require drainage, and strategies to avoid unnecessary drainage are warranted.