Laparoscopic Left Hemihepatectomy Combined with Caudate Lobe Resection

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the common malignant tumor of the liver. Radical surgical resection is the mainstay of potentially curative treatment for ICC. Anatomical liver resection for ICC in the caudate lobe is one of the most difficult liver resections. Because the tumor is located deep and easily invades surrounding blood vessels, such as the left hepatic pedicle, right hepatic pedicle, and middle hepatic vein. Laparoscopic anatomic hepatectomy of the caudate lobe not only ensures a negative incision margin but also offers a more minimally invasive approach for patients. This technique is poised to become the preferred choice for radical surgery of the caudate lobe in the future. In this surgical protocol, a 65-year-old male patient with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (sized about 3.2 × 1.9 cm²) located in the left caudal lobe underwent laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection successfully without any postoperative complications. Postoperative pathological examination showed a cholangiocarcinoma with a tumor thrombus visible in the vasculature. The patient was discharged on the 14th postoperative day. Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy for the treatment of caudate lobe ICC can be performed safely and does not add significantly to the morbidity or mortality of the procedure.