Usefulness and limitation of laparoscopic assisted hepatic resections: a preliminary report

Background/Aims: We preliminarily examined the characteristics of patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted hepatic resection (LAPH) to clarify its advantages and limitations of this procedure. Methodology: We examined the demographics, surgical records and outcome in 9 patients undergoing LAPH between 2001 and 2007 by comparing results in 15 patients (control group) who did not undergo laparoscopy before 2000. Results: By comparing the control group, patient demographics were not different. Four patients underwent left lateral sectionectomy and others underwent partial hepatectomy. One patient needed combined resection of abdominal wall and left lateral sector because of direct invasion from a liver tumor. There was no remarkable morbidity or mortality in all patients. Mean operation time in the LAPH group was significantly longer than that in the control group (356+/-68 vs. 276+A59 minutes) (p=O.015), particularly in patients undergoing partial resection. Blood loss was not different between groups. Days of use of pain reliever and hospital stay in the LAPH group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (pO.OOl). These tendencies were similar in each operative procedure. Conclusions: LAPH can be safely performed even in patients with chronic liver injury and recovery of patients from operation was faster than that by conventional hepatectomy