Author information
1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China.
2Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
3Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China. Electronic address: xfzhang125@126.com.
Abstract
AIMS:
Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for the development of postoperative pulmonary complications after major surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to investigate whether preoperative smoking has any impact on early morbidity after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS:
Data of 425 consecutive patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for HCC was retrospectively reviewed. Smoking and drinking habits, biochemical tests, tumor status, operation data, and any postoperative complications occurring before discharge from the hospital were documented. The risk factors promoting postoperative complications were analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods.
RESULTS:
The overall morbidity rate was 40% (170 of 425). 166 patients were current smokers (39%). By multivariate analysis, liver cirrhosis (Risk Ratio (RR) 4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-8.0), smoking status (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.1), PY of smoking (RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.9), preoperative platelet count (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-2.0) and major hepatectomy (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8) were independent risk factors of postoperative morbidity (all p < 0.05). Liver failure, bile leakage, intractable ascites, chest and wound infection were more frequently occurred in smokers than non-smokers. Current smokers had higher postoperative morbidity than non- & former smokers in patients with normal liver and those with liver cirrhosis (p = 0.047 and p < 0.001, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS:
Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for the development of liver-related and infectious complications in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for HCC, especially in those with liver cirrhosis.