Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery of abdominal large visceral organs

AIM: To design a hand-assisted laparoscopic approach in an attempt to provide an option for laparoscopic resection of abdominal large viscera. METHODS: A 5-6 cm incision (for HandPort) and 2 trocars were employed. The main vessel of the target organ was taken as a "core", and all tissues around the core were taken as peripheral structures. The peripheral structures were dissected first, and the core vessels were treated last. Twenty-six patients underwent laparoscopic deroofing of the hepatic huge cysts, resection of the segments lying at the outer edge of the liver (segments 2 to 6), splenectomy, hemicolectomy, ileocecectomy and subtotal gastrectomy with HandPort device, harmonic scalpel, or Ligasure. RESULTS: The duration of the procedure was within 2 hours. Blood loss amounted to 8-120 mL. The conversion rate was 3.8% (1/26). All patients had uneventful postoperative courses with less pain, earlier oral intake, and faster recovery, compared with conventional surgery. CONCLUSION: This method combines the advantages of both open and laparoscopic techniques, achieving better hemostasis effect, shortening the operative time, and is beneficial to the patients.