Surgical feasibility for the single-incision laparoscopic left-sided anatomical liver resection: A cohort comparative...

Single-incision laparoscopic liver resection represents an evolution in minimally invasive liver surgery. However, its safety, feasibility, and advantages over conventional multiport laparoscopic liver resection remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to evaluate perioperative and oncologic outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic liver resection in left-sided anatomical liver resections.

In this STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology-compliant retrospective cohort study, 111 patients who underwent laparoscopic anatomical liver resection for left-sided tumors from 2015 to 2022 were analyzed. Patients were grouped by surgical approach (34 single-incision laparoscopic liver resection, 77 multiport laparoscopic liver resection), and perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared. Subgroup analyses were performed for benign and malignant cases.

Baseline characteristics were generally similar, with differences in American Society of Anesthesiologists score (P = .022) and pathologic diagnosis (P = .046). Operative time, complication rates, 5-year survival (90.0% vs 81.3%, P = .356), and 30-day readmission (5.9% vs 1.3%, P = .222) were comparable. The single-incision laparoscopic liver resection group showed shorter hospital stays (3 vs 7 days, P < .001), earlier diet resumption (postoperative day 1 vs 2, P < .001), and lower postoperative day 2 C-reactive protein levels (5.73 vs 10.27 mg/dL, P = .021). Paradoxically, pain was greater on the day of surgery in the single-incision laparoscopic liver resection group (numeric rating scale 6 vs 5, P = .001) but declined more rapidly (Δ numeric rating scale on postoperative day 3: 3 vs 1, P = .042).

Single-incision laparoscopic liver resection is a safe and feasible option for left-sided anatomical liver resections and is associated with shorter hospital stay and comparable oncologic outcomes.