Introduction

Hepatectomy is currently the most reliable treatment modality for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This paper describes and discusses the outcomes of initial versus repeat hepatic resection for CRLM.

Material and methods

Between January 2008 and December 2018, we retrospectively analyzed the data of 385 patients who underwent initial and repeat hepatic resection for CRLM at a single institution with respect to surgical outcomes and remnant liver regeneration. The remnant liver volume was postoperatively measured via computed tomography on postoperative day 7 and at 1, 2, 5, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

Results

The liver regeneration rate peaked at 1 week postoperatively, and gradually decreased thereafter. Remnant liver volume plateaued around 1–2 months postoperatively, when regeneration was almost complete. There was no difference in the rate of liver volume regeneration during the entire postoperative period between initial and repeat hepatic resection (p = 0.708, 0.511, 0.055, 0.053, 0.102, and 0.110, respectively). After 2 months postoperatively, the laboratory data showed recovery toward near normal levels, and none of the data exhibited significant differences. There were also no significant differences in morbidity rate, mortality rate, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival after hepatic resection (p = 0.488, 0.124, 0.071 and 0.387, respectively).

Conclusions

Initial and repeat hepatectomy showed similar outcomes of remnant liver regeneration and short- and long-term prognoses.