Aims: To assess the results of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Patients and methods: From 1998 to 2003, 12 laparoscopic liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma were performed.
Results: There were no operative complications and no deaths. Conversion to laparotomy was required in one patient (8%) and transfusion in three patients (25%). One patient died of liver failure. Postoperative complications occurred in three patients (25%): trocar site bleeding, cardiac failure and biliary collection. The mean hospital stay was 5 days. No ascites and no transient liver failure occurred. During the mean follow up of 15 months the recurrence rate was 45.5%. No port site or peritoneal metastases were observed. Treatment of recurrence was second resection in two patients and microwave coagulation therapy in two other patients. Mean survival was 24 months.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic liver resection is feasible in hepatocellular carcinoma if the tumor is unique, smaller than 5 centimeters and located in the left lateral segments or in the anterior or inferior segments of the right liver. Postoperative morbidity is low and long-term results seem to be similar to laparotomy.