Laparoscopic minor liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary surgery
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques
• Oncology

Background:

• Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is increasingly explored for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Prior research suggests LLR may offer advantages over open liver resection (OLR) regarding postoperative complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the outcomes of LLR versus OLR in patients undergoing minor liver resection for HCC.
• To evaluate the impact of surgical approach on intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and long-term survival.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 109 HCC patients who underwent minor liver resection.
• Data collected from a Japanese tertiary care hospital between November 2010 and December 2022.
• Comparison of outcomes between LLR and OLR groups.

Main Results:

• LLR group showed significantly lower median intraoperative blood loss (P=0.0001).
• LLR group experienced a significantly shorter median hospital stay (P=0.0002).
• No significant difference in median postoperative survival was observed between LLR and OLR groups (P=0.717).

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic minor liver resection for HCC is associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss and shorter hospital stays.
• LLR provides comparable long-term survival outcomes to open resection for HCC.
• LLR represents a safe and effective alternative for minor liver resections in HCC patients.