Postoperative Hyperbilirubinemia Suggests the Occurrence of Complications After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

• Published in: World journal of surgery Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 1111 - 1118
• Main Authors: Takesue, Tomoko, Takeuchi, Hiroya, Fukuda, Kazumasa, Nakamura, Rieko, Takahashi, Tsunehiro, Wada, Norihito, Kawakubo, Hirofumi, Saikawa, Yoshiro, Omori, Tai, Kitagawa, Yuko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.05.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anastomotic Leak - blood; Anastomotic Leak - etiology; Anastomotic Leakage; Bilirubin - blood; Bilirubin Level; Cardiac Surgery; Enteral Nutrition; Esophageal Cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophagectomy - adverse effects; Female; General Surgery; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia - blood; Hyperbilirubinemia - etiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neck Dissection - adverse effects; Operative Time; Original Scientific Report; Pneumonia - blood; Pneumonia - etiology; Preoperative Period; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Surgery; Thoracic Duct - surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted - adverse effects; Total Bilirubin Level; Vascular Surgery; Esophageal Cancer; Enteral Nutrition; Anastomotic Leakage; Bilirubin Level; Total Bilirubin Level
• ISSN: 0364-2313; 1432-2323
• DOI: 10.1007/s00268-014-2936-x

Background Serum bilirubin levels frequently increase after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Several studies have reported hyperbilirubinemia in patients with postoperative complications. We aimed to perform a detailed large-scale analysis to clarify this association. Methods We compared postoperative serum bilirubin levels of 200 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy, with and without postoperative complications, from January 2008 to July 2013 at Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. We also analyzed other risk factors for postoperative hyperbilirubinemia by univariate and multivariate analyses in an attempt to determine the mechanism of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia. Results Hyperbilirubinemia (total bilirubin >2.0 mg/dL) occurred in 71 patients (35.5 %). The mean total bilirubin peak level was 1.5 mg/dL in patients without complications, 2.0 mg/dL in those with at least one complication, 2.1 mg/dL in those with pneumonia, and 2.3 mg/dL in those with anastomotic leakage. Bilirubin levels were significantly higher in each complication group than in the non-complication group ( p  < 0.05 for all). Risk factors of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia by univariate analysis were the preoperative bilirubin level, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, three-field lymph node dissection, thoracic duct resection, prolonged surgical duration, severe complications (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3), and severe anastomotic leakage (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3). In contrast, the pT factor and postoperative enteral nutrition were negatively associated with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia. Risk factors by multivariate analysis were the preoperative bilirubin level, prolonged surgical duration, severe complications, and postoperative enteral nutrition. Conclusions Although various factors impact postoperative hyperbilirubinemia, postoperative complications were most significantly associated with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia. Patients with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia after esophagectomy must be managed more carefully because unnoticed complications may be associated with hyperbilirubinemia.