Competing risk analysis on outcome after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients

Abstract

AIMTo investigate death for liver failure and for tumor recurrence as competing events after hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma.METHODSData from 864 cirrhotic Child-Pugh class A consecutive patients, submitted to curative hepatectomy (1997-2013) at two tertiary referral hospitals, were used for competing-risk analysis through the Fine and Gray method, aimed at assessing in which circumstances the oncological benefit from tumour removal is greater than the risk of dying from hepatic decompensation. To accomplish this task, the average risk of these two competing events, over 5 years of follow-up, was calculated through the integral of each cumulative incidence function, and represented the main comparison parameter.RESULTSWithin a median follow-up of 5.6 years, death was attributable to tumor recurrence in 63.5%, and to liver failure in 21.2% of cases. In the first 16 mo, the risk of dying due to liver failure exceeded that of dying due to tumor relapse. Tumor stage only affects death from recurrence; whereas hepatitis C infection, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, extent of hepatectomy and portal hypertension influence death from liver failure (P < 0.05 in all cases). The combination of these clinical and tumoral features identifies those patients in whom the risk of dying from liver failure did not exceed the tumour-related mortality, representing optimal surgical candidates. It also identifies those clinical circumstances where the oncological benefit would be borderline or even where the surgery would be harmful.CONCLUSIONHaving knowledge of these competing events can be used to weigh the risks and benefits of hepatic resection in each clinical circumstance, separating optimal from non-optimal surgical candidates.

A 19 year population-based cohort study analysing reoperation for recurrence following laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repairs

“…Laparoscopic repair was associated with an increased risk of requiring surgery for a repair to a recurrent hernia. A faster time to requiring an operation for [32][33][34]. Indeed, the lack of consideration for such confounding variables on outcome has recently been described as one of the three common methodological issues observed in population studies [29].…”

“…Inter-dependent confounding factors influencing absolute outcome are increasingly recognised in the surgical literature as potentially affecting survival analysis [ 32 – 34 ]. Indeed, the lack of consideration for such confounding variables on outcome has recently been described as one of the three common methodological issues observed in population studies [ 29 ].…”

Brazilian Society of Hepatology Updated Recommendations for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…On the other hand, LR may be considered for selected cases of BCLC B patients (208)(209)(210)(211)(212) . However, the increased risk of postoperative liver failure limits the use of LR for this group of patients.…”

Dynamic changes of portal vein pressure gradient under different degrees of liver cirrhosis and resection volume in the first week post hepatectomy

“…Portal hypertension is a major complication associated with end‐stage liver cirrhosis and may cause life‐threatening upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy . Portal hypertension is commonly present in HCC with liver cirrhosis with an increased risk for perioperative bleeding and liver failure …”