Safety of simultaneous resections of colorectal cancer and liver metastases

Liver resection is the only potentially curative method for patients with c olorectal cancer metastases and 5-year survival rates are 20% - 40%. Simult aneous resect ion of colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases has been recommended if minor hepatectomy is indicated. The purpose of this pa per is to analyze the treatment of hepatic colorectal secondaries and to as sess the safety of simultaneous and delayed liver resections and relations of morbidity to the extensiveness of hepatectomy and perioperative factors. Analyzed were 21 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer ope rated between 1997 and 1999 in the Clinical Hospital "Sestre milosrdnice". Operating time for simultaneous colorectal and liver resections was not sig nificantly longer compared to liver resections alone. No significant differ ence in complication rate was found after simultaneous procedures and liver resection alone (38% vs. 31%). Complication rate after major liver resecti ons was not significantly greater than after minor resections (38% vs. 31%) . No statistically significant differences were found in operation time and blood replacement between patients who developed postoperative complicatio ns and those who did not. In conclusion, simultaneous resections of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases may be considered safe. Morbidity r ates are not significantly different from those after liver resections alon e, nor depend significantly upon the extensiveness of liver resection, prov iding that the operation time and blood loss are within the range observed in this study.