Outcomes after Surgical Resection of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To report long term outcomes after surgical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA). STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Liver Transplant and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2011 to April 2018. METHODOLOGY: A prospective review of maintained database of patients who underwent surgical resection for hCCA was performed. A total of 24 patients were included. Outcome was assessed, based upon 90-day morbidity and mortality, 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Median age was 49 (23-73) years. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Median CA 19-9 level was 113 (2-1200) U/ml. Nine patients (37.5%) underwent right hepatectomy, six had right trisectionectomy (25%), three had central hepatectomy (12.5%) and left hepatectomy (12.5%) each, while three (12.5%) had other surgical procedures. In addition, two (8.3%) patients required portal vein resection and reconstruction. Median blood loss was 1350 (100-2000) ml. Median ICU stay was 4 (2-13) days, while hospital stay was 10 (6-32) days. Sixteen (66.7%) patients experienced at least one morbidity within 90 days, while 90-day mortality was 1/24 (4.1%). The overall recurrence rate was 6/18 (33.4%) and mortality was 9/18 (50%). The actuarial 5-year RFS was 60% and OS was 39%. CONCLUSION: hCCA remains a technically challenging surgical problem. Outcomes comparable to international standards can be achieved in experienced centres.