Outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with chronic hepatic dysfunction including liver cirrhosis: results of a retrospective multicenter study by the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Since there is no reliable evidence on the safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in chronic hepatic dysfunction (CHD) including liver cirrhosis (LC), the effects of CHD on patients undergoing PD were investigated.

METHODS: This multi-institutional retrospective study analyzed 529 patients with CHD, including 105 patients diagnosed with LC, who underwent PD at 82 high-volume institutions between 2004 and 2013.

RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.9%. The incidence of postoperative hepatic decompensation upon discharge and refractory ascites was 10.2% and 8.9%, respectively. For hepatic decompensation, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of more than 50 IU/l and portal hypertension (PHT) were independent significant risk factors. For refractory ascites, prothrombin activity of <70%, serum AST of more than 50 IU/l and advanced PHT with collaterals were significant risk factors. Five-year overall survival was 57.8% in Child A and 24.8% in Child B patients (P < 0.0001). The Child B/C patients were divided into two groups according to an AST-platelet ratio index (APRI) of 1.0; the APRI of <1.0 yielded a significantly higher survival rate than their counterpart (43.2% vs. 14.7%, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: In addition to PHT, pre-operative evaluation of AST and APRI may be helpful for patient selection for PD in patients with CHD.