Abstract: Objective To analyze the potential influencing factors for short-term mortality risk of metastatic liver cancer complicated with hepatic encephalopathy.Methods A total of 125 patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with hepatic encephalopathy admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled as the research subject. They were divided into survival group and death group according to the prognosis. The clinical data of the 2 groups were analyzed to summarize the risk factors of prognosis.Results There were statistical differences in Child-Pugh score and liver encephalopathy classification between survival group and death group (P<0.05). And there was no statistical difference in liver cancer classification, tumor diameter, or tumor location between 2 groups (P>0.05). The levels of prothrombin time, blood urea nitrogen, and cholinesterase were significantly different between 2 groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of alanine transaminase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, blood ammonia, or blood sodium (P>0.05). There was statistical difference in the incidence of liver cancer complicated with cirrhosis and the number of comorbidities (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidences of portal vein thrombosis, extrahepatic metastasis, or abdominal lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that cancer comorbidities ≥ 3, Ⅲ or Ⅳ stage of hepatic encephalopathy and Child-Pugh grade C were independent risk factors for short-term mortality of metastatic liver cancer complicated with hepatic encephalopathy (P<0.05).Conclusion There are many independent risk factors for short-term mortality of metastatic liver cancer with hepatic encephalopathy. Such patients need close monitoring and intervention to reduce the risk of death and to improve the prognosis.

Key words: Metastatic liver cancer, Hepatic encephalopathy, Short-term, Risk of death, Potential influencing factors