Laparoscopic resection of focal nodular hyperplasia in the hepatic caudate lobe

To investigate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic resection of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in the hepatic caudate lobe.

The clinical data of eight patients who underwent laparoscopic hepatic caudate lobe FNH resection at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed.

The laparoscopic procedures were successful in all eight patients, and no patients required conversion to open surgery. Five patients underwent partial caudate lobe resection, one patient underwent caudate lobe resection, and two patients underwent combined left hemihepatectomy with caudate lobe resection. Tumor resection was performed using the left approach in five cases, the right approach in one case, the middle hepatic fissure approach in one case, and the left and right combined approach in one case. The operation time ranged from 120 to 360 min, with a mean of 225 min. The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 50 to 600 ml, with a mean of 235 ml. No postoperative bleeding, bile leakage or abdominal infection occurred.

Laparoscopic resection of hepatic caudate lobe FNH was safe and feasible in appropriate patients. Skilled laparoscopic hepatectomy techniques, adequate preoperative evaluation, appropriate choice of surgical approach and the control of intraoperative bleeding are critical to perform this surgery.