A Literature Review to Assess Blood Loss in Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery Versus in Open Liver Resection

Aim and objectives The aim of the study was to assess the amount of blood loss in minimally invasive hepatectomy and open liver resection for both benign and neoplastic conditions. Introduction Minimally invasive surgery has progressively developed to a stage where once-novel and highly specialized surgical techniques are now common practice. Colorectal surgery is the key example that has shown minimally invasive surgery as highly beneficial. Successes in the colorectal laparoscopic approach have now been integrated into the speciality of hepatopancreaticobiiary (HPB) surgery. In this review, we will compare the amount of blood loss in minimally invasive liver resection with the more traditional approach of open liver resection. Methods A literature review was conducted which included the length of patient mobilization as a postoperative complication following laparoscopic and open liver resections. Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane were accessed to review previously published studies. Twelve studies were selected, and all of them were in English, ranged from the year 2000 to 2020. Results Eleven out of the 12 included studies indicated that minimally invasive liver resection is associated with reduced blood loss. Conclusion In comparing both minimally invasive liver resection and classic open surgery, minimally invasive liver resection was shown to have reduced blood loss; this was seen in both malignant and benign tumours. Therefore, laparoscopic liver resection could be favoured over the classical open approach to avoid excessive blood loss intra-operatively.