Placement of an arterial hepatic catheter after a major hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases: Is this safe?

BackgroundStudies have suggested that hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy (HAI) after resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) may improve patient's survival. The placement of a catheter in the hepatic artery at the time of hepatic surgery should therefore be considered in patients at high risk of hepatic recurrence. The aim of this study was to compare post-operative outcomes in patients who underwent at least a major hepatectomy (≥3 segments) for CRLM with or without catheter placement.MethodsFrom 2000 to 2010, 57 patients who underwent at least a major hepatectomy for CRLM resection were selected from a prospective database. Among them, 22 had had a catheter insertion during surgery.ResultsThe two groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), ASA score, and the average number of pre-operative courses of systemic chemotherapy (11 ± 5). The rate of overall complications was slightly higher after catheter insertion (63% vs. 51%) although not significant (p = 0.36). Two patients had died post-operatively from liver insufficiency; both had undergone catheter insertion after a major hepatectomy associated with contralateral procedures resulting in a small remnant liver volume with low outflow capacity. Thrombosis of the common hepatic artery and portal venous gas were depicted on both CT scan.ConclusionAlthough the placement of an arterial catheter during a major hepatectomy does not significantly increase the rate of postoperative complications two patients died post-operatively in this study from vascular thrombosis. In case of extended and complex hepatectomy, with a higher risk of post-operative complications, delaying the catheter placement could be recommended.