Techniques for performing laparoscopic liver resection in various hepatic locations

Many studies have recently reported on laparoscopic liver resection, although its development has been slow compared to laparoscopy in other fields. The indications for the location of laparoscopic liver resection have previously been limited to easily accessible lesions. Performing laparoscopic liver resection in the posterior and superior parts of the liver has been considered difficult due to inadequate exposure, the poor operative field and the difficulty with parenchymal dissection. Flexible endoscopy, high definition imaging and various kinds of equipment for parenchymal transection have been introduced for clinical use. In addition, much experience with this procedure has been accumulated at many centers. Accordingly, there are an increasing number of reports on laparoscopic liver resection in difficult locations. At our institution, the location of the tumor is no longer a limitation to laparoscopic liver resection. However, for safer laparoscopic liver resection, the patient positioning and trocar placement should be individualized according to the tumor location. The type of resection also may depend on the remaining liver’s functional capacity. We describe here the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection, including the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection for lesions located in the postero-superior segments of the liver.     

Single-Port Laparoscopic Liver Resection: Largest Turkish Experience

Single-port laparoscopic surgery has the advantage of a hidden scar and reduced abdominal wall trauma. Although single-port laparoscopic surgery is widely performed for other organs, its application is very limited for liver resection. Here, we report our experience with nine patients who underwent single-port laparoscopic liver resection. Nine patients underwent single-port laparoscopic liver resection for the indications of hydatid cyst, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Nine patients were successfully treated with single-port laparoscopic surgery. The operative time was between 60 and 240 min. The only operative complication was bleeding up to 650 mL in a patient with cirrhosis. No postoperative complications occurred. All patients were discharged earlier than usual. Single-port laparoscopic liver surgery is a challenging surgery. Surgeon with the experience of laparoscopic liver surgery should perform the single-port laparoscopic liver surgery. It is technically feasible with a good outcome in well-selected patients. Initial cases must be benign lesions to avoid jeopardizing oncological safety.     

完全腹腔镜肝切除时出血问题的探讨

目的　探讨腹腔镜肝切除手术的出血原因和预防措施。　方法　 2 1例中包括原发性肝癌 13例、肝血管瘤 3例、肝脓肿 2例、肝囊肿伴感染、局灶结节性增生、肝脏腺瘤各 1例。肝功能Child分级 :A级 16例 ,B级 5例 (均为肝癌病人 )。　结果　 2 1例在全气腹条件下完成腹腔镜肝切除手术 ,包括肝局部切除 12例 ,左肝解剖性切除 9例。手术时间 80～ 32 0 (平均 193 8± 78 3)min ,出血量 10 0～ 10 0 0ml (平均 333 1± 2 91 4 )ml,有 2例出血 10 0 0ml,术中输血各 80 0ml。术后恢复顺利 ,术后平均住院时间 6 3± 1 5d ,术后恢复时间较常规开腹方法肝切除患者明显缩短。　结论　本组研究表明在现有的手术器械条件和不阻断肝门血流的情况下 ,可以安全方便地处理术中出血。腹腔镜肝切除微创手术的前景广阔 ,不仅适于对肝良性肿瘤的手术 ,也为肝脏恶性肿瘤患者提供了切除肿瘤的新途径     

Recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma in the liver: a repeated laparoscopic surgical approach

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is characterized by a particularly aggressive behavior even many years after resection of primary tumor. The evolution of metastasis dramatically affects the final outcome but resection should always be evaluated. Herein is described a case of aggressive ACC of the parotid gland in a 30-year-old female. She developed local recurrence and lung metastases; then, she also developed two liver metastasis 112 and 132 months after the resection of the primitive cancer of the parotid gland. Both lesions were successfully managed by a laparoscopic approach. Intra-abdominal adhesions after the first surgery were mild, allowing an easier access for the second laparoscopic liver resection. At 1 year follow-up, the patient is liver disease free with a stable lung disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a double laparoscopic liver resection for parotid gland's ACC metachronous metastases. Patients with resected ACC need a strict and lifelong follow-up after the resection of the primitive cancer. Also for ACC, a laparoscopic approach to liver metastasis should always be considered as a viable alternative to open surgery. In our experience of over 90 cases, laparoscopic surgery causes less adhesions, allowing an easier approach for repeated resections.     

Laparoscopic treatment of liver hemangioma

Cavernous hemangioma is the most common benign liver tumor. When it becomes symptomatic, enucleation is considered the treatment of choice because of its lower morbidity compared with liver resection. Therefore, although there have been many series of laparoscopic liver resection, only a few cases of laparoscopic enucleation of liver hemangiomas have been reported. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with a symptomatic 4-cm liver hemangioma of the left lobe who underwent laparoscopic enucleation, with complete relief of the symptoms at the 3-month follow-up. The operating time was 90 minutes. Neither liver mobilization nor ligament division was necessary. The dissection was carried out with minimal blood loss. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. Laparoscopic enucleation is easy to perform in suitable lesions, and its advantage with respect to liver resection is the preservation of healthy parenchyma and liver ligaments. No outflow occlusion is needed, and the intraoperative bleeding is easily controlled. Technical aspects of laparoscopic enucleation are described and a review of the literature is also provided.     

吲哚菁绿荧光导航技术在腹腔镜肝胆胰外科手术中的研究进展

近年来,随着吲哚菁绿(ICG)荧光导航技术在医学各个领域应用的日益广泛,该技术也越来越成熟,尤其是在腹腔镜肝胆胰外科手术中的发展日趋完善.ICG在肝脏外科手术中的应用主要包括界定肝肿瘤病灶边界、侦查微小病灶、检测切缘残留病灶、实时标记肝段和手术切肝平面,有效减低手术风险并提高R0切除率;在胆道外科中主要涉及肝内胆管癌、...     

Current status of the laparoscopic approach to liver resection

We present the current status of laparoscopic approach to liver resection. Indications, surgical techniques, complications, and results are based on a review of the literature. RESULTS: Over 700 laparoscopic liver procedures have been reported since 1991. A vast majority (70%) of the procedures were performed for benign lesions. The remaining 30% were malignant tumors. Cyst fenestration and unroofing was the most frequently performed laparoscopic liver procedure (245 patients). Overall morbidity was 12% (56 patients). The overall conversion rate was 11% (36 patients). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection is feasible, with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Results should be confirmed in further prospective studies, especially for resection of malignant tumors.     

腹腔镜下规则性肝切除11例分析

目的 介绍完全腹腔镜下规则性肝切除。方法 在不阻断全肝血流的情况下，应用多种器械在腹腔镜下进行规则性肝切除11例，其中原发性肝癌4例、肝囊肿伴感染1例、肝门部胆管癌1例、肝脏炎性假瘤1例、肝脏血管瘤4例。结果 11例手术均完全在腹腔镜下顺利完成，左半肝切除3例、左外叶切除6例、肝方叶切除1例、右后叶下段切除1例。左肝各段(2、3、4段)均有独立的3级肝门结构，均可在矢状部对2至3级肝门的三管进行解剖和离断。平均手术时间215．2min，平均出血量533．3min，术后平均住院5．1d，腹腔引流管放置时间2～4d。未发生胆漏、出血、感染等并发症。结论 本组初步临床经验表明，在现有的手术器械条件及在不阻断全肝血流的情况下，可以较安全地进行腹腔镜下规则性肝切除。该方法可作为局限于左半肝病例的首选术式之一。     

Laparoscopic Liver Resection

More than 3,000 laparoscopic liver resections (LLR) are performed worldwide for benign disease, malignancy, and living donor hepatectomy. Minimally invasive hepatic resection approaches include pure laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and a laparoscopic-assisted open “hybrid” approach, where the operation is started laparoscopically to mobilize the liver and begin the dissection, followed by a small laparotomy for completion of the parenchymal transection. Surgeons should have an advanced understanding of hepatic anatomy, extensive experience in open liver surgery, and technical skill to control major vascular and biliary structures laparoscopically before embarking on LLR. Although there is no absolute size criterion, smaller, peripheral lesions (<5 cm) that lie far from major vessels and anticipated transection planes are most amenable to LLR. Although the majority of reported LLR are non-anatomic resections or segmentectomies, several surgical groups are now performing laparoscopic major hepatic resections with excellent safety profiles. Patient benefits from LLR include less operative blood loss, less postoperative pain and narcotic requirement, and a shorter length of hospital stay, with comparable postoperative morbidity and mortality to open liver resection. Comparison studies between LLR and open resection have revealed no differences in width of resection margins for malignant lesions or overall survival after resection for hepatocellular cancer or colorectal cancer liver metastases. Advantages of LLR for HCC in particular include avoidance of collateral vessel ligation, decreased postoperative hepatic insufficiency, and fewer postoperative adhesions, all of which are features that enhance subsequent liver transplantation.     

Ultrasonographic laparoscopy of the liver

SITUATION: In spite of recent progress in medical imagery, the findings of preoperative investigations of the liver are not always accurate and precise. Since the development of surgical laparoscopy, advantages of the laparoscopic examination are associated with advantages of laparoscopic ultrasonography. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to report the technique of staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic contact ultrasonography in the intraoperative assessment of patients with liver tumors, and to analyse its impact on the selection of patients for hepatic resection with curative intent. METHODS: The basic exploration follows at first portal branches and then hepatic veins. During the course of vascular exploration, the corresponding liver parenchyma is examined. A mobilization of the probe with clockwise or anticlockwise rotation movements allows full exploration of the liver. RESULTS: The association of laparoscopic examination and laparoscopic ultrasonography allows to localize with accuracy malignant and benign lesions and to perform ultrasound guided biopsy. Liver tumors not visible on preoperative imagery may be identified, relationships with adjacent vessels and presence of tumoral thrombi in major vascular structures may be assessed. Resectability of the liver tumors is at the best specified. CONCLUSION: Staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography improves selection of patients for liver resection and facilitates choice and performance of the most appropriate resection.     

Conventional laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic liver resection for benign and malignant pathologies: a cohort study

The aim of our study was to evaluate different minimally invasive surgical approaches for liver resection in a tertiary surgical center. The study cohort comprised 104 consecutive patients who underwent total laparoscopic liver resection (n?=?17), hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection (n?=?55), or robot-assisted laparoscopic liver resection (n?=?32) in our center between October 1998 and January 2011. Surgical complications, postoperative course, disease-free survival, and overall survival for malignancy were assessed. These 104 resections were performed on 55 men and 49 women with a mean age of 60.4?years; 43.3% of patients had liver cirrhosis. The liver pathologies comprised malignant tumors (64.4%) and benign lesions (35.6%). The most common laparoscopic liver resection was left lateral sectionectomy (53.9%), wedge resection (26.9%), segmentectomy (13.5%), right hepatectomy (3.8%), and left hepatectomy (1.9%). Conversion from laparoscopy to open approach and from laparoscopy to hand-assisted approach occurred in 1.9 and 1% of the cases, respectively. Overall mortality was 0%, and morbidity was 17.3%. The median follow-up period was 24?months. The 5-year overall survival for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was 52%, and the 3-year overall survival for colorectal liver metastasis was 88%. Based on these results, we conclude that laparoscopic liver resection is feasible and safe in appropriately selected patients. In our patient cohort, it was associated with a low complications rate and favorable survival outcome.     

左侧半旋转体位下腹腔镜肝脏Ⅶ段部分切除术治疗肝脏良性病灶临床疗效分析

目的评估左侧半旋转体位腹腔镜下肝脏Ⅶ段部分切除术治疗肝脏良性病灶的临床效果。方法回顾性分析2019年1月至12月青岛大学附属医院肝脏外科收治的20例肝脏Ⅶ段良性病灶的临床资料。所有病人均采用左侧半旋转体位,接受了腹腔镜下以Ⅶ段为主肝部分切除手术。结果手术无中转开腹和二次手术,没有输库血(3例病人因血管瘤较大,术中收集了自体血回输)。病人术后无胆漏及出血,均顺利康复出院,平均住院时间9.6 d。结论位于肝脏Ⅶ段的良性病灶,即使大于5 cm,靠近右肝静脉,也能通过左侧半旋转体位充分显露病灶,结合戳卡的布局调整,降低手术难度,保证腹腔镜下安全的切除以肝脏Ⅶ段为主的良性病灶,使对开腹手术有顾虑的病人从微创手术中获益。     

Laparoscopic liver resection: benefits and controversies

Laparoscopic liver resection is feasible and safe. Small tumors located in the left-lateral segment are the most favorable for the laparoscopic approach. Complication and conversion rates are acceptable. The laparoscopic approach to malignant lesions is controversial and results should be confirmed in further prospective studies. This highly advanced laparoscopic surgery requires experience and the availability of technologies for safe dissection of liver parenchyma.     

Laparoscopic liver resection without portal clamping: a prospective evaluation

Background  Previous comparative studies have demonstrated that laparoscopic liver resection is associated with more frequent use and longer duration of portal camping than open liver resection, a fact that may partially explain the improvement in operative blood loss reported by most series of laparoscopic liver resection. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the real need for portal clamping in laparoscopic liver surgery. Study design  Surgical outcomes of 40 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection for benign and malignant lesions from September 2005 to August 2007 were evaluate. Portal clamping was not systematically used. Results  No patient required blood transfusion and median blood loss was 160 ml (range 100–340 ml). Mean operating time was 267 min (range 220–370 min) and portal clamping was necessary in only one patient. Surgical complications included two grade I complication, three grade II, and one case of postoperative hemorrhage (grade III). Conclusions  Laparoscopic liver surgery without clamping can be performed safely with low blood loss.     

腹腔镜肝切除研究进展

开腹肝切除一直是肝脏良恶性病变的有效治疗方式.但开腹肝切除手术创伤大,术后并发症多.如何降低肝脏手术创伤也是摆在肝脏外科医师面前的一道难题.腹腔镜技术的兴起为肝脏外科医师提供了一条途径.但腹腔镜肝切除技术尚未成熟,本文就有关腹腔镜肝切除的相关情况进行综述.     

腹腔镜肝切除术11例临床报告

目的:探讨腹腔镜肝切除术的适应证和可行性。方法:回顾分析10例病灶位于肝脏边缘及左肝外叶(Ⅱ～Ⅵ段)及1例位于Ⅷ段的肝占位患者的临床资料。其中原发性肝细胞癌8例,肝海绵状血管瘤2例,胆管细胞癌1例,肝功能Child-Pugh评分A级9例,B级2例;AFP(+)7例;位于左肝外叶实质中的肿瘤,行规则性左肝外叶切除;位于肝脏边缘或右肝表面的肿瘤,行肝脏局部切除。结果:11例均成功完成腹腔镜肝切除术,无中转开腹。其中局部切除术7例,左肝外叶切除术4例,腹腔镜脾切除+胆囊切除术2例。平均手术时间105min,术中平均出血220ml,切除病灶最大直径10cm。全部肿瘤均完整切除,肿瘤包膜完整,无破裂。术后未发生胆漏和出血等并发症,恢复良好,术后平均住院8.5d。结论:位于肝脏边缘、右肝表面或左半肝(Ⅱ～Ⅵ段)的肝脏占位,行腹腔镜肝切除术是安全可行的。     

Laparoscopic vs. open liver resection for malignant liver disease. A systematic review

IntroductionSince the introduction of minimally invasive techniques, there is little agreement about use of laparoscopic surgery for malignant liver lesions as compared to open resection. We aim to analyse all available data comparing both these groups.MethodsAll the studies that compared laparoscopic and open liver resections for malignant lesions were searched on various databases. Data were collected and analysed in Review Manager RevMan (version 5.0).ResultsThere were total of 10 studies (n = 700) that compared laparoscopic (296/700) and open (404/700) hepatic resections for malignant lesions. Laparoscopic group was associated with reduced number of patients requiring blood transfusion [Odds ratio 0.35 CI 0.20, 0.60 P<0.001 HG 0.85], decreased number of positive resection margin [Odds ratio 0.34 CI 0.16, P0.006 HG 0.73] and decrease in overall complication rate [Odds ratio 0.43, CI 0.26, 0.73 P0.002 HG 0.22]. Laparoscopic group was associated with less operative blood loss [WMD 162.6 ml CI ?261.79, 73.45 P<0.001] and reduced hospital stay [WMD 4.28 days CI ?6.33, ?2.23 P<0.001]; however, there was significant heterogeneity [HG <0.001] between the studies for these parameters.ConclusionThe laparoscopic group was associated with reduce overall complication rate, positive resection margins and number of patients requiring blood transfusion. There is still need for level I and II data to compare laparoscopic versus open hepatic resection in malignant lesions.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection: lessons from an initial experience

BACKGROUND: Recent innovations in laparoscopic instrumentation make routine resection of solid organs a clinical possibility. HYPOTHESIS: Hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection is a safe and feasible procedure for solitary cancers requiring removal of 2 segments of liver or less. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Eleven patients with liver tumors deemed technically resectable by laparoscopic techniques were subjected to laparoscopic evaluation and attempted hand-assisted laparoscopic resection between July 1998 and July 1999. During the same period, 230 patients underwent open liver resection. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center for liver cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success of laparoscopic resection, reasons for conversion to open liver resection, blood loss, tumor clearance margin, complications, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Five patients underwent successful resection by the hand-assisted laparoscopic technique. Data from the 5 successful cases and the 6 aborted cases are presented to outline the issues and the lessons learned. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection can be safely performed and might have potential advantages over traditional liver resection if the tumor is limited to the left lateral segment or is at the margins of the liver.     

Incidental cystadenoma after laparoscopic treatment of hepatic cysts: which strategy?

Biliary cystadenoma is a very rare hepatic neoplasm, accounting for fewer than 5% of cystic neoplasms of the liver; regardless of the various diagnostic modalities, such a lesion may be difficult to distinguish preoperatively from a cystadenocarcinoma. Although a diagnosis of cystadenoma during open hepatic surgery demands a complete surgical resection, there are few reports describing the correct approach to such lesions after a laparoscopic approach. This article presents the first case series of incidental cystadenoma after laparoscopic surgery for hepatic cystic lesions. One patient with a polycystic liver disease treated with a laparoscopic enucleation of the larger cyst declined the reintervention after the diagnosis of cystadenoma; she had no recurrence at follow-up. One patient with a large simple hepatic cyst laparoscopically enucleated had no recurrence at the 18-month follow-up. In one patient, there was a high suspicion of recurrence of cystadenoma after the laparoscopic fenestration of a large cyst, but a histopathological specimen obtained after the open surgical resection could not confirm any signs of cystadenoma. The incidental finding of biliary cystadenoma after laparoscopic fenestration of a cystic hepatic lesion requires an open hepatic resection. When a complete laparoscopic enucleation of the cyst may be assured, a strict clinical, biochemical, and radiologic follow-up could be considered as the definitive treatment, demanding the surgical intervention only in case of recurrence or high suspicion for malignancy.