Risk factors for surgical site infections following hepatobiliary surgery: An umbrella review and meta-analyses

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2025 Jan;51(1):109468. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2024.109468. Epub 2024 Nov 17.

Abstract

Background: In the hepatobiliary (HPB) surgical cohort, surgical site infections (SSI) can extend hospital stays, result in higher morbidity, and poor patient outcomes. This umbrella review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise the evidence for the association between clinical and patient risk factors and SSI in patients following HPB surgery.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and Scopus from January 2000 to April 2023 to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses where patient and/or clinical factors of SSIs following HPB surgery were reported. The summary effect size, its 95 % CI and the 95 % PI were calculated for each meta-analysis using random-effects models. 30-day cumulative SSI incidence was presented as the pooled estimate with 95 % CIs. Between-study heterogeneity was explored using the I2 statistic.

Results: Nine systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. Our findings suggest open surgical approach, type of pancreas procedure, preoperative biliary drainage, older age, male sex and high BMI (>25mg/k2) as statistically significant factors for increasing a patient's risk of SSI following HPB surgery. The cumulative incidence of SSI in the HPB cohort of 43,296 was 11 % (95 % CI 6%-20 %), with substantial variation between the reviews.

Conclusion: We identified several patient and clinical factors, however only one was graded as a high level of evidence.

Keywords: Hepatobiliary; Incidence; Meta-analysis; Risk factors; Surgical site infection; Umbrella review; Wound infection.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Body Mass Index
  • Drainage
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Surgical Wound Infection* / epidemiology