Laparoscopic liver surgery: a synopsis

The complex vascular and biliary anatomy of the liver poses great challenges even to experienced surgeons. However, with the experience accrued over the past two decades, surgery of the liver has become standardized. In the past few years innovative surgical techniques have permitted liver surgery to be performed using the minimally invasive approach. Large clinical series have been reported which demonstrate the safety and oncological integrity of the approach. This review highlights the current state of laparoscopic liver surgery with emphasis on problems unique to the procedure.