Comparative study and systematic review of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To compare the surgical outcomes between laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) as a curative treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: A PubMed database search was performed systematically to identify comparative studies of LLR vs OLR for HCC from 2000 to 2014. An extensive text word search was conducted, using combinations of search headings such as “laparoscopy”, “hepatectomy”, and “hepatocellular carcinoma”. A comparative study was also performed in our institution where we analysed surgical outcomes of 152 patients who underwent liver resection between January 2005 to December 2012, of which 42 underwent laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic resection and 110 underwent open resection.RESULTS: Analysis of our own series and a review of 17 high-quality studies showed that LLR was superior to OLR in terms of short-term outcomes, as patients in the laparoscopic arm were found to have less intraoperative blood loss, less blood transfusions, and a shorter length of hospital stay. In our own series, both LLR and OLR groups were found to have similar overall survival (OS) rates, but disease-free survival (DFS) rates were higher in the laparoscopic arm.CONCLUSION: LLR is associated with better short-term outcomes compared to OLR as a curative treatment for HCC. Long-term oncologic outcomes with regards to OS and DFS rates were found to be comparable in both groups. LLR is hence a safe and viable option for curative resection of HCC.     

Comparison of laparoscopic vs open liver Iobectomy （segmentectomy） for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the effects of laparoscopic hepa-tectomy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) .METHODS:From 2006 to January 2011,laparoscopic hepatectomies were performed on 30 cases of HCC at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital. During this sametime period,30 patients elected to undergo conventional open hepatectomy over laparoscopic hepatectomy at the time of informed consent. The degree of invasiveness and outcomes of laparoscopic hepatectomy compared to open hepatectomy for HCC wereevalu...     

规则性肝切除术治疗原发性肝癌的分析

目的:随机对照观察规则性肝切除术治疗原发性肝癌的安全性以及临床疗效,探讨治疗肝癌合理的手术方式.方法:将38例肝切除术治疗原发性肝癌的患者随机分为2组:规则性肝切除术15例.非规则性肝切除术23例,对两组病例的手术和随访情况进行分析评价.结果:两组均无手术死亡,术中出血、并发症发生率、住院时间无显著差异.规则性肝切除标本切缘满意率(大于2cm)较高,术后近期复发率显著降低,一年无瘤生存率高于非规则性肝切除.结论:规则性肝切除是治疗原发性肝癌安全有效的术式,对有适应证的病例应尽可能采用此种手术方式,有望获得较好的疗效.     

A case of laparoscopic hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Conventional hepatectomy is an effective way to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.However,it is invasive and stressful.The use of laparoscopy in hepatectomy,while technically demanding,reduces surgical invasiveness and stressfulness but still achieves complete resection with adequate margins.Compared with conventional hepatectomy,laparoscopic hepatectomy provides a better chance and situation for further surgery in the case of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.Even aged patients can successfully endure re...     

Laparoscopic liver resection facilitates salvage liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/Purpose

In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a previous liver resection (LR) may compromise subsequent liver transplantation (LT) by creating adhesions and increasing surgical difficulty. Initial laparoscopic LR (LLR) may reduce such technical consequences, but its effect on subsequent LT has not been reported. We report the operative results of LT after laparoscopic or open liver resection (OLR).

Methods

Twenty-four LT were performed, 12 following prior LLR and 12 following prior OLR. The LT was performed using preservation of the inferior vein cava. Indication for the LT was recurrent HCC in 19 cases (salvage LT), while five patients were listed for LT and underwent resection as a neoadjuvant procedure (bridge resection).

Results

In the LLR group, absence of adhesions was associated with straightforward access to the liver in all cases. In the OLR group, 11 patients required long and hemorrhagic dissection. Median durations of the hepatectomy phase and whole LT were 2.5 and 6.2 h, and 4.5 and 8.3 h in the LLR and OLR groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Median blood loss was 1200 ml and 2300 ml in the LLR and OLR groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Median transfusions of hepatectomy phase and whole LT were 0 and 3 U, and 2 and 6 U, respectively (P < 0.05). There were no postoperative deaths.

Conclusions

In our study, LLR facilitated the LT procedure as compared with OLR in terms of reduced operative time, blood loss and transfusion requirements. We conclude that LLR should be preferred over OLR when feasible in potential transplant candidates.     

Meta-analysis of short-term outcomes after laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer

Background Laparoscopic resection (LR) has become increasingly popular for the management of rectal cancer. Despite a decade of experience, the safety and efficacy of LR for rectal cancer remains to be established. This report performs a meta-analysis to compare LR with conventional open resection (CR) in patients with rectal cancer.Methods Using a defined search strategy, studies directly comparing CR with LR for rectal cancer were identified. The data for patients with rectal cancer treated with both approaches were extracted and used in our meta-analysis. Open surgery and laparoscopic surgery were compared in terms of postoperative mortality, morbidity, complications, oncological clearance, operating time, and time before recovery to a normal diet.Results Compared with CR, LR is associated with lower morbidity rates [OR 0.63 (0.41, 1.96) P=0.03], longer operating times [weighted mean difference 1.59 (1.20, 1.98) P<0.00001], similar mortality rates, wound healing disorder rates, urinary disorder rates, cardiopulmony disease rates, all leakage rates, all abscess rates and a positive rate of margin.Conclusion LR is associated with less postoperative morbidity, but longer operation time. A prospective randomized controlled trial is warranted to fully investigate these and other outcome measures.     

Laparoscopic liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma:Current role and limitations

Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is currently known to be a safer procedure than it was before because of technical advances and improvement in postoperative patient management and remains the first-line treatment for HCC in compensated cirrhosis.The aim of this review is to assess current indications,advantages and limits of laparoscopic surgery for HCC resections.We also discussed the possible evolution of this surgical approach in parallel with new technologies.     

Costs of laparoscopic and open liver and pancreatic resection: A systematic review

AIM: To study costs of laparoscopic and open liver and pancreatic resections, all the compiled data from available observational studies were systematically reviewed.METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases to identify all studies published up to 2013 that compared laparoscopic and open liver [laparoscopic hepatic resection (LLR) vs open liver resection (OLR)] and pancreatic [laparoscopic pancreatic resection (LPR) vs open pancreatic resection] resection. The last search was conducted on October 30, 2013.RESULTS: Four studies reported that LLR was associated with lower ward stay cost than OLR (2972 USD vs 5291 USD). The costs related to equipment (3345 USD vs 2207 USD) and theatre (14538 vs 11406) were reported higher for LLR. The total cost was lower in patients managed by LLR (19269 USD) compared to OLR (23419 USD). Four studies reported that LPR was associated with lower ward stay cost than OLR (6755 vs 9826 USD). The costs related to equipment (2496 USD vs 1630 USD) and theatre (5563 vs 4444) were reported higher for LPR. The total cost was lower in the LPR (8825 USD) compared to OLR (13380 USD).CONCLUSION: This systematic review support the economic advantage of laparoscopic over open approach to liver and pancreatic resection.     

Propensity score analysis demonstrated the prognostic advantage of anatomical liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To compare the prognoses of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients that underwent anatomic liver resection(AR)or non-anatomic liver resection(NAR)using propensity score-matched populations.METHODS:Between January 2002 and December2010,268 consecutive HCC patients,including 110 and158 patients that underwent AR and NAR,respectively,were retrospectively enrolled in this study.Forty-four patients from each group were selected and matched using logistic multivariate analysis followed by propensity score analysis.RESULTS:In the whole analysis set,the histological background of the liver,liver function,and tumor marker levels differed significantly among the groups.Although the overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival rates of the two groups did not differ significantly in the whole analysis set,the OS of the AR group was significantly longer than that of the NAR group after propensity matching(76.2±6.3 mo vs 58.9±6.3mo;P=0.0039).Although AR(HR=0.456,P=0.039)was found to be a prognostic factor in the univariate analysis,only vascular invasion(HR=0.228,P=0.002)and the hepatocyte growth factor level(HR=52.366,P=0.035)were subsequently found to be independent prognostic factors.CONCLUSION:AR conveys a survival advantage over NAR in specific subpopulations of HCC patients with tumors of less than 5 cm in diameter,single tumor,and good liver function.     

根治性肝切除联合索拉非尼治疗肝细胞癌的研究进展

根治性肝切除仍然是肝细胞癌(hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)的主要治疗手段,但术后转移复发导致肝切除的疗效进入瓶颈期.探索术后复发的治疗措施是有效延长患者生存时间的重要课题.目前,以经皮肝动脉化疗栓塞为代表的多种治疗措施已在临床广泛开展,但尚缺乏大规模、多中心随机对照临床试验的循证医学证据.分子靶向药物索拉非尼的出现为改善HCC预后开辟了新局面,对于已接受过根治性肝切除治疗的HCC患者,索拉非尼可能是一种有效的辅助治疗方法,值得深入探索.     

射频消融对比手术切除治疗小肝癌的Meta分析

目的:比较射频消融术与外科手术切除在治疗小肝癌中的疗效.方法:计算机检索1991-2011年发表的有关采用射频消融术(radiofrequency ablation,RFA)与外科手术肝切除(surgical hepatic resection,HR)治疗小肝癌的对照试验,按照Cochrane系统评价员手册4.2.2版所推荐的质量评价标准来筛选试验,评价纳入研究的方法学质量,用RevMan5.0.25版软件对研究进行系统评价及Meta分析.结果:共纳入2个随机对照试验,9个非随机对照试验,其中英文9篇,中文1篇,韩文1篇.所纳入的研究共包括2965例患者:其中射频消融组患者1459例、外科手术切除组患者1506例.Meta分析表明:外科手术组在3年、5年生存率及1、3、5年无瘤生存率上明显高于射频消融组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),两者1年生存率相比无显著差异(P>0.05);术后严重并发症射频消融组明显低于外科手术组(P<0.05).结论:现有的证据表明,对于小肝癌,射频消融术后严重并发症明显少于外科手术切除,但是外科手术切除治疗小肝癌总体疗效仍明显优于射频消融治疗.     

Evaluating the current surgical strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite careful surveillance programs and the development of antiviral therapy for hepatitis virus infection, the occurrence rate of HCC remains high. Liver resection and liver transplantation are mainstay curative treatments. Most patients with HCC have impaired liver function, and surgical treatment is always accompanied by the risk of decompensation of the remnant liver, especially when the volume of the remnant liver is too small and the liver function too low to meet metabolic demands. The mortality of liver resection has dramatically decreased over the last three decades from 20% to less than 5% due to the accumulation of knowledge of liver anatomy, perioperative management and preoperative assessment of liver function. Here we provide an overview of the multidisciplinary treatments and current standard treatment strategies for HCC, to explore the possibility of expanding surgical treatments beyond the current standards.     

Status and perspective of laparoscopic repeat liver resection

Liver resection(LR) is now actively applied to intrahepatic recurrence of liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although indications of laparoscopic LR(LLR) have been expanded, there are increased risks of intraoperative complications and conversion in repeat LLR. Controversy still exists for the indication. There are 16 reports of small series to date. These studies generally reported that repeat LLR has better short-term outcomes than open(reduced bleedings, less or similar morbidity and shorter hospital stay) without compromising the long-term outcomes. The fact that complete adhesiolysis can be avoided in repeat LLR is also reported. In the comparison of previous procedures, it is reported that the operation time for repeat LLR was shorter for the patients previously treated with LLR than open. Furthermore, it is speculated that LLR for minor repeat LR of cirrhotic liver can be minimized the deterioration of liver function by LR. However, further experience and evaluation of anatomical resection or resections exposing major vessels as repeat LLR, especially after previous anatomical resection, are needed. There should be a chance to prolong the overall survival of the patients by using LLR as a powerful local therapy which can be applied repeatedly with minimal deterioration of liver function.     

Development of a nomogram to predict outcome after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in Child-Pugh B cirrhosis

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Hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of liver transplantation

The aim of management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is to improve the prognosis of the patients by radical resection and preserve remnant liver function. Although liver transplantation is associated with a lower tumor recurrence rate, this benefit is counteracted by long-term complications. Therefore, hepatectomy could be the first choice of treatment in selected patients with HCC. However, the higher frequency of tumor recurrence and the lower rate of resectability after hepatectomy for HCC led to an unsatisfactory prognosis. New strategies are required to improve the long-term outcome of HCC after hepatectomy. In this paper, we introduce some strategies to increase the low rate of resectability and reduce the high rate of tumor recurrence. Some aggressive treatments for tumor recurrence to extend long-term survival are also involved. We believe that hepatectomy combined with other therapies, such as portal vein embolization, transarterial chemoembolization, radioembolization, antiviral treatment, radiofrequency ablation and salvage transplantation, is a promising treatment modality for HCC and may improve survival greatly.     

Systematic review of surgical resection vs radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most common neoplasms worldwide. Surgical resection and local ablative therapies represent the most frequent first lines therapies adopted when liver transplantation can not be offered or is not immediately accessible. Hepatic resection (HR) is currently considered the most curative strategy, but in the last decade local ablative therapies have started to obtain satisfactory results in term of efficacy and, of them, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is considered the reference standard. An extensive literature review, from the year 2000, was performed, focusing on results coming from studies that directly compared HR and RFA. Qualities of the studies, characteristics of patients included, and patient survival and recurrence rates were analyzed. Except for three randomized controlled trials (RCT), most studies are affected by uncertain methodological approaches since surgical and ablated patients represent different populations as regards clinical and tumor features that are known to affect prognosis. Unfortunately, even the available RCTs report conflicting results. Until further evidences become available, it seems reasonable to offer RFA to very small HCC (< 2 cm) with no technical contraindications, since in this instance complete necrosis is most likely to be achieved. In larger nodules, namely > 2 cm and especially if > 3 cm, and/or in tumor locations in which ablation is not expected to be effective or safe, surgical removal is to be preferred.     

Repeated liver resection for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Aim: Tumor recurrence after liver resection occurs in the majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was conducted to clarify the safety and effectiveness of repeated liver resection as a curative option for intrahepatic HCC recurrence. Methods: Between July 1990 and January 2009, 483 patients underwent 514 curative hepatic resections for HCC in our institution. Among this collective, 27 patients underwent 31 repeated resections due to recurrent HCC (27 s resections, three third resections and one forth resection). The outcome of these patients was retrospectively reviewed using a prospective database. Results: Perioperative morbidity and mortality was 11% (three of 27) and 0%. Six patients showed multiple liver lesions, 23 underwent minor liver resections (fewer than three segments) and five patients underwent major resections (three or more segments). The majority of the patients showed no signs of chronic liver disease (16 of 27). The median tumor free margin was 1.5 mm (range: 0 to 20 mm). The median tumor diameter was 40 mm (range: 10 to 165 mm). Tumor dedifferentiations at time of tumor recurrence were not observed. The 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival rates after second liver resection were 96%, 70% and 42%. Conclusions: Repeated liver resection is a valid and safe curative therapy option for recurrent HCC and results in significant prolongation of survival in comparison to interventional treatment strategies in selected patients. However, due to impaired liver function, multifocal intrahepatic or extrahepatic recurrence repeated resection is only feasible in a minority of patients.