Preoperative prediction and prevention of intraoperative acute liver failure after major liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract Introduction Liver resection (LR) in patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer remains the only curative treatment. Perioperative chemotherapy improves prognosis of these patients. However, there are concerns regarding the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on liver regeneration, which is a key event in avoiding liver failure after LR. The primary objective of this systematic review is to assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on liver regeneration after (LR) or portal vein embolization (PVE) in patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the impact of the type of chemotherapy, number of cycles, and time between end of treatment and procedure (LR or PVE) and to investigate whether there is an association between degree of hypertrophy and postoperative liver failure. Methods This meta-analysis will include studies reporting liver regeneration rates in patients submitted to LR or PVE. Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases will be searched. Only studies comparing neoadjuvant vs no chemotherapy, or comparing chemotherapy characteristics (bevacizumab administration, number of cycles, and time from finishing chemotherapy until intervention), will be included. We will select studies from 1990 to present. Two researchers will individually screen the identified records, according to a list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Primary outcome will be future liver remnant regeneration rate. Bias of the studies will be evaluated with the ROBINS-I tool, and quality of evidence for all outcomes will be determined with the GRADE system. The data will be registered in a predesigned database. If selected studies are sufficiently homogeneous, we will perform a meta-analysis of reported results. In the event of a substantial heterogeneity, a qualitative systematic review will be performed. Discussion The results of this systematic review may help to better identify the patients affected by liver metastasis that could present low regeneration rates after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These patients are at risk to develop liver failure after extended hepatectomies and therefore are not good candidates for such aggressive procedures. Systematic review registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020178481 (July 5, 2020).

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Low preoperative platelets to predict postoperative liver dysfunction in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer undergoing liver resection.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.30.4_suppl.634 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (4_suppl) ◽

pp. 634-634

Author(s):

Patrick Starlinger ◽

Beata Herberger ◽

Dietmar Tamandl ◽

Stefan Stremitzer ◽

Christine Brostjan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Liver Resection ◽

High Risk ◽

Postoperative Complications ◽

Metastatic Colorectal Cancer ◽

Liver Dysfunction ◽

Postoperative Mortality ◽

Platelet Counts ◽

The Impact ◽

Selection Of

634 Background: Despite improving median survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, chemotherapy (CTx) compromises liver function. Therefore, selection of patients who are of high risk to develop liver dysfunction (LD) after surgery is important. As platelets are of major importance in liver regeneration, we investigated the impact of preoperative platelet counts on the incidence of postoperative LD and its correlation to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Methods: Patients treated with liver resection for mCRC between January 2000 and December 2010 were eligible. LD was defined as bilirubin > 5 mg/dL or prothrombin time <50% within the first postoperative week. The association of preoperative platelets < 150 x 103/ml with LD, 90 days mortality and surgical complications was analyzed. Results: 518 patients with metastatic CRC cancer underwent liver resection, of whom 68% had received neoadjuvant CTx. 21% of all patients developed LD. Postoperative complications occurred in 13.5%. 10 patients died within 90 days after liver resection (1.9%). The incidence of LD and complications was significantly higher in patients with preoperative platelets < 150 x 103/ml (P=0.010, P=0.047). 90 days mortality was nearly 3 times higher in patients with reduced preoperative platelets (9.8% vs. 3.7%). Neoadjuvant CTx was associated with an increased rate of platelets < 150 x 103/ml (with CTx 25%, without CTx 17%; P=0.051), LD (with CTx 23%, without CTx 15%; P=0.029) and postoperative mortality (with CTx 5.3%, without CTx 2.5%). Conclusions: Patients with platelets < 150 x 103/ml have an increased incidence of postoperative LD, major complications and 90 days mortality. Using this simple routine parameter, it might be possible to select patients that could be better served with alternative treatments such as radiofrequency ablation. Furthermore, reduced platelet counts and the incidence of LD were more frequent in patients after neoadjuvant CTx resulting in an increased 90 days mortality. This suggests that patients after extensive CTx accompanied by low platelets are of high risk to suffer from postoperative complications and surgical treatment should be reconsidered.

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