She WH, Cheung TT, Ma KW, et al. - In the management of operable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) patients with hyperbilirubinemia, adverse postoperative outcomes related with hyperbilirubinemia could be averted via performing preoperative biliary drainage, a measure to bring down the bilirubin to a certain level. In this retrospective study, researchers investigated a cutoff of preoperative bilirubin level that would diminish postoperative morbidity and mortality. They analyzed data of 90 patients receiving hepatectomy with curative intent for HC. Findings suggest a cutoff value of 75 μmol/L for preoperative bilirubin level; a preoperative bilirubin level ≤ 75 μmol/L was correlated with significantly less blood replacement necessitated by blood loss during operation and significantly enhanced patient survival after surgery.