Postoperative short-term outcomes
The overall complication rate was lower in the LH group than in the OH group (33.3% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.050) (Table 3). In the favorable location subgroup analysis, the F-LH group had a lower rate of major complications rate than the F-OH group (12.0% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.080). In the F-OH group, two patients experienced grade IIIa complications (both had pleural effusion); one patient experienced a grade IIIb complication (grade C bile leakage); one patient experienced a grade IVa complication (post-hepatectomy liver failure); and one patient experienced a grade IVb complications (acute kidney injury and post-hepatectomy liver failure). In the F-LH group, one patient experienced a grade IIIa complication (superficial surgical site infection). No grade V complications developed in either group.
The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LH group than in the OH group (7 vs. 11 days, p < 0.001) (Table 3). The 90-day readmission rate was significantly less in the LH group than in the OH group (3.2% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.048) (Table 3), but there was no significant difference in 90-day mortality between both groups (1.6% vs. 5.2%, p = 0.241). In the favorable location subgroup analysis, the F-LH group, when compared to the F-OH group, had shorter postoperative hospital stay (7 vs. 10 days, p < 0.001) and a significantly lower 90-day readmission rate (2.3% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.042), but no significant difference in 90-day mortality rate (0.0% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.071).