[Laparoscopic resection of solid liver tumors. Presentation of our experience]

[Laparoscopic liver resection: lessons learned after 132 resections]

INTRODUCTION

After 20 years of experience in laparoscopic liver surgery there is still no clear definition of the best approach (totally laparoscopic [TLS] or hand-assisted [HAS]), the indications for surgery, position, instrumentation, immediate and long-term postoperative results, etc.

AIM

To report our experience in laparoscopic liver resections (LLRs).

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Over a period of 10 years we performed 132 LLRs in 129 patients: 112 malignant tumours (90 hepatic metastases; 22 primary malignant tumours) and 20 benign lesions (18 benign tumours; 2 hydatid cysts). Twenty-eight cases received TLS and 104 had HAS.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

6 right hepatectomies (2 as the second stage of a two-stage liver resection); 6 left hepatectomies; 9 resections of 3 segments; 42 resections of 2 segments; 64 resections of one segment; and 5 cases of local resections.

RESULTS

There was no perioperative mortality, and morbidity was 3%. With TLS the resection was completed in 23/28 cases, whereas with HAS it was completed in all 104 cases. Transfusion: 4,5%; operating time: 150min; and mean length of stay: 3,5 days. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates for the primary malignant tumours were 100, 86 and 62%, and for colorectal metastases 92, 82 and 52%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LLR via both TLS and HAS in selected cases are similar to the results of open surgery (similar 5-year morbidity, mortality and survival rates) but with the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

[Laparoscopic liver resection: lessons learned after 132 resections]

INTRODUCTION

After 20 years of experience in laparoscopic liver surgery there is still no clear definition of the best approach (totally laparoscopic [TLS] or hand-assisted [HAS]), the indications for surgery, position, instrumentation, immediate and long-term postoperative results, etc.

AIM

To report our experience in laparoscopic liver resections (LLRs).

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Over a period of 10 years we performed 132 LLRs in 129 patients: 112 malignant tumours (90 hepatic metastases; 22 primary malignant tumours) and 20 benign lesions (18 benign tumours; 2 hydatid cysts). Twenty-eight cases received TLS and 104 had HAS.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

6 right hepatectomies (2 as the second stage of a two-stage liver resection); 6 left hepatectomies; 9 resections of 3 segments; 42 resections of 2 segments; 64 resections of one segment; and 5 cases of local resections.

RESULTS

There was no perioperative mortality, and morbidity was 3%. With TLS the resection was completed in 23/28 cases, whereas with HAS it was completed in all 104 cases. Transfusion: 4,5%; operating time: 150min; and mean length of stay: 3,5 days. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates for the primary malignant tumours were 100, 86 and 62%, and for colorectal metastases 92, 82 and 52%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LLR via both TLS and HAS in selected cases are similar to the results of open surgery (similar 5-year morbidity, mortality and survival rates) but with the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

[Chemical embolisation before laparoscopic hepatic resection in early hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients]

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether preoperative transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) reduces haemorrhage during laparoscopic resection, thus making the Pringle manoeuvre unnecessary and avoiding any subsequent complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We present 3 cirrhotic Child A patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma, all of whom had been given the same treatment involving resection by laparoscopy and preoperative TACE of the segments to remove. All the nodules were located in the right hepatic lobe. One case was treated using total laparoscopic surgery and the two remaining cases were converted to the hand-assisted technique. In the first case we carried out bisegmentectomy VI-VII; in the second, segmentectomy VI plus radiofrequency of a second nodule in segment VII, and in the third case, segmentectomy V.

RESULTS

There was no morbidity or mortality. Blood transfusion was not required by any of the patients; in fact blood losses were 100, 50 and 150 ml, respectively, and it was not necessary to carry out the Pringle manoeuvre. Surgical margin was greater than 1cm in the three cases and hospital stay was less than 3, 3 and 4 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

TACE prior to early hepatocellular carcinoma resection in cirrhotic patients seems to improve surgical safety with low blood losses without the use of the Pringle manoeuvre. Prospective random studies should be carried out on a larger number of patients in order to assess this technique.

A new approach to hand-assisted laparoscopic liver surgery

BACKGROUND

The best type of laparoscopic approach in solid liver tumours (SLTs), whether total laparoscopic surgery or hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS), has not yet been established. Our objective is to present our experience with laparoscopic liver resections in SLTs performed by HALS using a new approach.

METHODS

We performed 35 laparoscopic resections in SLTs, of which 26 were carried out using HALS (in 25 patients) and 21 patients had liver metastases of a colorectal origin (LMCRC) (1 patient had 2 resections), 1 metastasis from a neuroendocrine tumour of the pancreas, 1 hepatocarcinoma on a healthy liver, 1 primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma and 1 giant haemangioma. Mean follow-up was 22 months. OPERATION: One right hemihepatectomy, one left hemihepatectomy, five bisegmentectomies II-III, three bisegmentectomies VI-VII and 16 segmentectomies (five of S. VI, three of S. VIII; three of S. V; two of S. IVb; one of S. II; one of S. IV; and in the remaining case resection of S. III and VI plus resection of a metastasis in S. VIII).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Morbidity and mortality, conversion to open procedure, intraoperative blood loss, intra- and postoperative transfusion, length of stay and survival.

RESULTS

There were no intra- or postoperative deaths, nor were there any conversions. One patient presented with morbidity (3.8%) (liver abscess). Mean blood loss was 200 ml (range 0-600 ml). One patient required transfusion (3.8%). Mean operative time was 180 min (range 120-360 min). Mean length of hospital stay was 4 days (range 2-5 days). The actuarial survival rate of the patients at 36 months with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (LMCRC) was 80%.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver resection with HALS reproduces the low morbidity and mortality rates and effectiveness (3-year survival) of open surgery in SLTs when indicated selectively.

Laparoscopic hepatic left lateral lobectomy combined with fiber choledochoscopic exploration of the common bile duct and traditional open operation

AIM: To investigate the possibilities and advantages of laparoscopic hepatic left lateral lobectomy combined with fiber choledochoscopic exploration of the common bile duct compared with traditional open operation.

METHODS: Laparoscopic hepatic left lateral lobectomy combined with fiber choledochoscopic exploration of the common bile duct and traditional open operation were performed in two groups of patients who had gallstones in the left lobe of liver and in the common bile duct. The hospitalization time, hospitalization costs, operation time, operative complications and post-operative liver functions of the two groups of patients were studied.

RESULTS: The operation time and post-operative liver functions of the two groups of patients had no significant differences, while the hospitalization time, hospitalization costs and operative complications of the laparoscopic hepatic left lateral lobectomy combined with fiber choledochoscopic exploration in the common bile duct group were significantly lower than those in the traditional open operation group.

CONCLUSION: For patients with gallstones in the left lobe of liver and in the common bile duct, laparoscopic hepatic left lateral lobectomy combined with fiber choledochoscopic exploration of the common bile duct can significantly shorten the hospitalization time, reduce the hospitalization costs and the post-operative complications,without prolonging the operation time and bringing about more liver function damages compared with traditional open operation. This kind of operation has more advantages than traditional open operation.

[Right hepatectomy and left hepatectomy performed via hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Description of an original technique]

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic liver surgery in solid tumors presents a number of difficulties. This type of surgery is indicated especially in tumors of less than 5 cm located in the left lobe and in anterior segments of the right lobe. Access to posterior lesions of the right lobe (segments VII and VIII) and performing major regulated hepatectomies (more than 3 segments) are at present difficult for liver surgeons.

OBJECTIVE

To present a regulated right hepatectomy (RH) and left hepatectomy (LH) performed via hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) using an original technique.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

RH was performed in a 70-year-old man with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma (pT2N0M1 sigmoid adenocarcinoma). LH was performed in a 44-year-old woman with a 16-cm hemangioma that had shown tumoral growth. Dissection of the hepatic artery was performed between ligations, and the portal vein was sectioned between ligations or with a vascular endostapler. Division of the bile duct and suprahepatic veins was performed with a vascular endostapler. Parenchymal dissection was carried out with a harmonic scalpel and dissection of intrahepatic veins of over 3 mm was performed with a 10-mm Ligasure Atlas.

RESULTS

The operating time for RH was 360 min, with no transfusion or complications, and length of hospital stay was 5 days. The operating time for LH was 240 min, requiring 2 U of blood, with no morbidity and a length of hospital stay of 4 days.

CONCLUSIONS

HALS allows major liver resections to be performed with low morbidity and mortality and with the advantages of laparoscopic surgery.