Does Metabolic Syndrome Effect the Perioperative Course and Costs of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Robotic Hepatectomy? A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND

This study was undertaken to examine the postoperative outcomes, costs, and survival after robotic hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with or without metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

Following IRB approval, we prospectively followed 56 patients undergoing robotic hepatectomy for HCC from 2016-2020. Patients with metabolic syndrome were compared to patients without metabolic syndrome regarding postoperative clinical outcomes, costs, and survival. Propensity score matching of a 1:1 ratio matched patients with and without metabolic syndrome according to 6 variables.

RESULTS

17 patients were matched to each arm. Mean age was 64 ± 14.0 years and 30 patients (88%) had operations that were classified as advanced (IWATE 7-9) or expert (IWATE 10-12). There were no differences between patients with metabolic syndrome versus patients without metabolic syndrome in terms of operative duration (306 [301 ± 76.2] vs 239 [260 ± 116.9] minutes; P = 0.23), estimated blood loss (300 [321 ± 195.5] vs 200 [214 ± 151.4] ml; P = 0.08), conversion to "open" operation (1 [6%] vs 1 [6%]; p = 1.00), tumor size (5 [5 ± 3.0] vs 3 [4 ± 2.2] cm; P = 0.28), postoperative complications with Clavien-Dindo Score (≥III) (0 vs 1; P = 1.00), in-hospital mortality (0 [0%] vs 1 [6%]; P = 1.00), length of stay (5 [5 ± 1.7] vs 4 [5 ± 4.4] days; P = 1.00), and 30-day readmissions (1 [6%] vs 1 [6%]; P = 1.00). There were no differences in overall costs and profit. There was no difference in 1-year, 2-year, and 3- year overall survival in patients with or without metabolic syndrome after robotic HCC resection (84% vs 77%, 84% vs 61%, and 45% vs 61%, P = 0.42).

CONCLUSION

For patients with and without metabolic syndrome, robotic advanced/expert hepatectomy for HCC resulted in similar intra-operative metrics, postoperative outcomes, costs, and survival.