CT-Guided Drainage of Fluid Collections Following Liver Resection: Technical and Clinical Outcome of 143 Patients during a 14-Year Period

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the technical and clinical outcome of patients with symptomatic postoperative fluid collections following liver resection treated with CT-guided drainage (CTD). Methods: 143 suitable patients were examined between 2004 and 2017. Technical success was defined as (a) sufficient drainage of the fluid collection and (b) the non-occurrence of peri-interventional complications requiring surgical treatment with minor or prolonged hospitalization. Clinical success was defined as (a) decreasing or normalization of specific blood parameters within 30 days after intervention and (b) no surgical revision in addition to intervention required. C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytes and Total Serum Bilirubin (TSB) were assessed. Dose length product (DLP) for the intervention parts was determined. Results: Technical success was achieved in 99.5% of 189 performed interventions. Clinical success was reached in 74% for CRP, in 86.7% for Leukocytes and in 62.1% for TSB. The median of successful decrease was 6.0 days for CRP, 3.5 days for Leukocytes and 5.5 days for TSB. In 90.2%, no surgical revision was necessary. Total DLP was significantly lower in the second half of the observation period (median 536.0 mGy*cm between years 2011 and 2017 vs. median 745.5 mGy*cm between years 2004 and 2010). Conclusions: Technical success rate of CTD was very high, and clinical success rate was fair to good. Reduction of the radiation dose reflects developments of CT technology and increased experience of the interventional radiologists.