Risk Factors of Ascites after Hepatectomy for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Cirrhosis

Background/Aims: To identify risk factors of postoperative ascites after hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatitis B virus associated-cirrhosis. Methodology: The data of 73 patients were reviewed in current study. Pre- and intraoperative variables were retrospectively analyzed using uni- and multi-variate analyses. The diagnostic accuracy of the predictors was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Results: Indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (ICGR15) > 10%, tumor size > 10cm, splenectomy, middle hepatic vein (MHV) resection, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion were risk factors in univariate analysis. However, only ICGR15 > 10%, tumor size > 10cm and RBC transfusion showed prognostic power in multivariate analysis. ROC analysis suggested the best cut-off value of risk factors was 2. Conclusions: Our study indicated the postoperative ascites could be predicted by pre- and intra-operative variables. ICGR15 > 10%, tumor size > 10cm and RBC transfusion were independent risk factors for ascites after hepatectomy. Patients with two or more of the above-mentioned risk factors may suffer postoperative ascites after hepatectomy.