Objective: To compare both incidence and types of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) between laparoscopic major hepatectomy (LMH) and open major hepatectomy (OMH).
Background: LMHs are increasingly performed. Yet, the benefits of laparoscopy over laparotomy regarding PPCs remain unknown.
Methods: In this multi-institutional study, all patients undergoing OMH or LMH between 1998 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factors for PPCs were analyzed on multivariate analysis. Comparison of both overall rate and types of PPCs between OMH and LMH patients was performed after propensity score adjustment on factors influencing the choice of the approach.
Results: LMH was performed in 226 (18.6%) of the 1214 included patients. PPCs occurred in 480 (39.5%) patients including symptomatic pleural effusion in 366 (30.1%) patients, respiratory insufficiency in 141 (11.6%), acute respiratory distress syndrome in 84 (6.9%), pulmonary infection in 80 (6.5%), and pulmonary embolism in 47 (3.8%) patients. On multivariate analysis, preoperative hypoprotidemia [hazard ratio (HR): 1.341, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001-1.795; P = 0.049], open approach (HR: 2.481, 95% CI: 1.141-6.024; P = 0.024), right-sided hepatectomy (HR: 2.143, 95% CI: 1.544-2.975; P < 0.001), concomitant extrahepatic procedures (HR: 1.742, 95% CI: 1.103-2.750; P = 0.017), transfusion (HR: 2.851, 95% CI: 2.067-3.935; P < 0.001), and operative time more than 6 hours (HR: 1.510, 95% CI: 1.127-2.022; P = 0.006) were independently associated with PPCs. After propensity score matching, the overall incidence of PPCs (13.2% vs 40.5%, P < 0.001), symptomatic pleural effusion (11.6% vs 26.4%, P = 0.003), pleural effusion requiring drainage (1.7% vs 9.9%, P = 0.006), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (1.7% vs 9.9%, P = 0.006) were significantly lower in the laparoscopy group than in the open group.
Conclusions: Pure laparoscopy allows reducing PPCs in patients requiring major liver resection.