HEPATIC RESECTIONS - AN 8 YEAR EXPERIENCE AT A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL

  • 1 June 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (6) , 373-375
Abstract
Between April 1979 and March 1987 24 patients underwent 26 hepatic resections. Colorectal liver metastases constituted the largest group (n=18), followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (n=2), Echinococcal liver cyst (n=1), cholangiocarcinoma (n=1), and leiomyosarcoma (n=1). The mean age was 41.8 .+-. 14.6 years (range: 23-69 years). Fifteen women and nine men comprised the group. The operative morbidity was 21 per cent, the 30-day operative mortality was 8 per cent (two deaths). Both operative deaths occurred in patients with colorectal liver metastases. The 18 patients with colorectal liver metastases included ten women and eight men. The mean age was 59.1 .+-. 6.5 years (range: 46-69 years). There were seven synchronous and 11 metachronous liver metastases. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was found elevated in 14 of the original primary colonic carcinomas, and in all but one patient with metachronous liver metastases. The mean time from colorectal carcinoma resection to occurrence of metachronous metastases was 17.1 .+-. 5.8 months. To date, 10 patients have had recurrences of liver metastases after hepatic resetion for colorectal liver metastases. The mean time of recurrence was 12.6 .+-. 11.9 months. The size of the metastases was 3.8 .+-. 3.2 cm (range: 0.2-17 cm). The mean number of lesions present was 1.5 .+-. 1.0. The 1 year and 2 year actuarial survival rates were 87.5 and 43.8 per cent respectively. The longest survivor is alive 54 months after his hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases and remains to this date disease free. Our findings suggest that hepatic resections are indicated for colorectal liver metastases as well as for other hepatic conditions. CEA was valuable in following patients with colorectal carcinomas to detect resectable recurrences, especially liver metastases.