To analyse the risk factors of biliary leakage after surgical resection in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC).

The medical data on 179 patients who underwent surgical resection for PHCC at the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Ningbo Medical Centre Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University from April 2000 to April 2020 were collected, and 160 patients were finally enrolled into this study. There were 86 males and 74 females, aged (63.4±10.8) years. The 44 patients with class B biliary leakage and the 5 patients with class C biliary leakage were classified into the biliary leakage group, while the remaining 111 patients were classified into the control group. Risk factors of biliary leakage were analysed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Operation time ≥360 min, resection and reconstruction of hepatic hilar vessels on the preserved side of liver and number of bile duct openings of >3 in remnant liver were significantly higher in the biliary leakage than the control group (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that resection and reconstruction of hepatic hilar vessels on the preserved side (OR=2.322, 95%CI: 1.078-5.002, P=0.028) and 3 or more bile duct openings in the remnant liver (OR=2.656, 95%CI: 1.198-5.892, P=0.016) were significantly associated with biliary leakage.

Resection and reconstruction of hepatic hilar vessels on the preserved side of liver and 3 or more bile duct openings in remnant liver were independent risk factors for biliary leakage after PHCC resection.

Klatskin tumor; Portoenterostomy, hepatic; Biliary leakage; Postoperative complications