Prediction of perioperative outcome after hepatic resection for pediatric patients

Hepatic resection is associated with significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Optimising the surgical techniques and perioperative management may improve in operative morbidity and mortality. However, perioperative variables involved in the improvement for postoperative outcomes in pediatric hepatectomy have not been defined.

We retrospectively reviewed 156 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent hepatectomy at our center (an academic tertiary care hospital) between 2006 and 2016. Baseline demographic variables, intraoperative variables, complications, and hospital stay were explored. The patients were further investigated using univariate and multivariate analysis for the factors involved in the postoperative outcomes.

Of the conditions requiring resections, malignant and benign liver diseases accounted for 47.4% (74/156) and 52.6% (82/156), respectively. The overall hospital mortality was 1.9% (3/156) and the overall postoperative complication rate was 44.2% (69/156). Anatomical resections were performed in 128 patients (82.1%), including 14(9.0%) extended hepatectomies. Eighty percent of patients had three or more segments resected. The median operative time was 167.7 (65–600) minutes and median estimated blood loss was 320.1(10–1600) mL. On multivariate analysis, the estimated blood loss (EBL) (mL) (OR, 2.19; 95CI, 1.18–3.13; p = 0.016), extent of hepatectomy (OR, 1.81; 95CI, 1.06–2.69; p = 0.001) and pringle maneuver (OR, 1.38; 95CI, 1.02–1.88; p = 0.038) were the independent predictors of postoperative complications.

Extent of hepatectomy and estimated blood loss are largely responsible for the perioperative complications. With the surgical devices and management amelioration, like pringle maneuver, the treatment planning may be optimize in pediatric liver resection.