Abstract
Background
Portal vein embolization (PVE) increases the resectability of initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM). This study evaluated long-term survival in patients with CLM who underwent hepatectomy following PVE.
Methods
In a retrospective analysis patients treated by PVE before major hepatectomy were compared with those who did not have PVE, and with those who had PVE without resection.
Results
Of 364 patients who underwent hepatectomy, 67 had PVE beforehand and 297 did not. Those who had PVE more often had more than three liver metastases (68 versus 40ยท9 per cent; P < 0ยท001) that were more frequently bilobar (78 versus 55ยท2 per cent; P < 0ยท001), and a higher proportion underwent extended hepatectomy (63 versus 18ยท1 per cent; P < 0ยท001). Postoperative morbidity rates were 55 and 41ยท1 per cent respectively (P = 0ยท035), and overall 3-year survival rates were 44 and 61ยท0 per cent (P = 0ยท001). Thirty-two other patients who were treated by PVE but did not undergo resection all died within 3 years.
Conclusion
PVE increased the resectability rate of initially unresectable CLM. Among patients who had PVE, long-term survival was better in those who had resection than in those who did not. PVE is of importance in the multimodal treatment of advanced CLM.