Laparoscopic Versus Open Liver Resection for Benign Tumors and Lesions: A Case Matched Study with Propensity Score...

In recent years, minimally invasive surgical approaches have gained an increasingly important role in hepatobiliary surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and potential benefits of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) compared with open liver resection (OLR) for benign liver tumors and lesions. Between January 2009 and December 2017, 182 patients underwent liver resection for benign liver tumors and lesions at our center. After exclusion of 15 patients, the remaining 167 patients were divided into LLR group (n = 54) and OLR group (n = 113) and were compared with regard to perioperative outcomes. To overcome selection bias, a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. In addition, patients undergoing major hepatectomy were divided into major-LLR and major-OLR groups and perioperative outcomes evaluated. After PSM, 35 patients were included in the OLR group and 35 patients in the LLR group. The LLR group had a significantly shorter median intensive care unit (ICU) stay (LLR: 1 [0-4] days; OLR: 1 [0-3] days; P = .009) and median hospital stay (length of stay [LOS]) (LLR: 7 [4-14] days; OLR: 10 [5-16] days; P < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications graded as Clavien-Dindo ≥III (LLR: 11.4%; OLR: 2.9%; P = .375) in both groups. Postoperative 90-day mortality was 0% in both groups. When comparing major-LLR (n = 8) with major-OLR (n = 59), patients in the major-LLR group had a significantly longer median operation time (major-LLR: 403 [240-501] minutes; major-OLR: 221.5 [111-529] minutes; P < .001), but a significantly shorter median LOS (major-LLR: 7 [5-14] days; major-OLR: 9 [7-129] days; P = .013). The rate of major complications (Dindo Classification ≥III) for major-LLR was 0% and for major-OLR it was 16.9% (P = .207). Our case-matched study demonstrates shorter ICU and hospital stay using laparoscopic techniques while maintaining high-quality perioperative outcomes. Based on our findings, we suggest preferring the LLR over OLR for benign liver tumors and lesions regardless of the resection extent.