RESULTS OF MAJOR HEPATECTOMY FOR LARGE PRIMARY LIVES CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS

Major hepatectomy is associated with a high operative risk in patients with cirrhosis. Between June 1983 and December 1991, 33 cirrhotic pat ients, 31 with good liver function, underwent major liver resection fo r a large hepatic primary cancer. The hospital mortality rate was 3 pe r cent; the only death resulted from liver failure after extended righ t hepatectomy. None of the patients had variceal bleeding during the p ostoperative period. Survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 66, 43 an d 37 per cent respectively. Recurrence was the most common reason for late death. These results suggest that the operative risk of major hep atectomy in cirrhotic patients with a large tumour and good liver func tion is comparable to that of minor liver resection. Late survival is also similar to that of patients with a small tumour. Cirrhotic patien ts with hepatic carcinoma and good liver function are suitable for maj or hepatectomy.