Surgical Site Infection after Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

AIMS

To clarify the clinical impact, risk factors, and preventive methods for surgical site infection (SSI) after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

We included 879 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC between 2002 and 2011. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for incisional and organ/space SSIs. ORs and 95% CIs are reported.

RESULTS

The incidences of incisional and organ/space SSIs were 24 (2.7%) and 73 (8.3%), respectively. High body mass index, multiple resections, and organ/space SSI were associated with incisional SSIs, while repeat hepatectomy (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.27-3.60), ascites (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.55-5.48), and bile leakage (OR 4.77, 95% CI 2.77-8.11) were independent risk factors for organ/space SSI. Among the cases with bile leakage, lower rates of organ/space SSIs tended to be observed in patients with cystic duct tubes than in patients without such tubes (13.2 vs. 26.5%, p = 0.157). Retrograde drain infections increased when drain placement was prolonged for more than 4 postoperative days.

CONCLUSION

Bile leakage was associated with the greatest risk of organ/space SSI after hepatectomy for HCC. Cystic duct tubes might be useful for preventing bile leakage and subsequent organ/space SSI after procedures that extensively expose Glissonean pedicles.