Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Hepatectomy for a Subcapsular Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Segment VI (Video)

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma located in hepatic segment VI/VII or close to the adrenal gland were generally considered challenging for minimally invasive resection. For these individualized patients, this may be overcome by the novel use of a retroperitoneal laparoscopic hepatectomy; however, minimally invasive retroperitoneal liver resection is difficult to perform.^1-3 This video article demonstrates a pure retroperitoneal laparoscopic hepatectomy for a subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma.

Video: A 47-year-old male patient with Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis presented with a small tumor located very close to the adrenal gland next to segment VI of the liver. An enhanced abdominal computed tomographic scan demonstrated a solitary 2.3 × 1.6 cm lesion. Considering the special location of the lesion, a pure retroperitoneal laparoscopic hepatectomy was performed after obtaining the patient's consent. The patient was positioned in the flank position. The procedure was carried out using the balloon technique for a retroperitoneoscopic approach, with the patient in the lateral kidney position. The retroperitoneal space was first accessed through a 12-mm skin incision above the anterior superior iliac spine in the mid-axillary line and was expanded by inflating a glove balloon to 900 mL. A 5 mm port below the 12th rib in the posterior axillary line and a 12 mm port below the 12th rib in the anterior axillary line were placed. Following incision of Gerota's fascia, the dissection plane between the perirenal fat and the anterior renal fascia located at the superomedial side of the kidney was explored. The retroperitoneum behind the liver was fully exposed after the upper pole of the kidney was isolated. After localization of the tumor by intraoperative ultrasonography through the retroperitoneum, the retroperitoneum was dissected directly above the tumor. We used an ultrasonic scalpel to divide the hepatic parenchyma, and a Biclamp for hemostasis. The blood vessel was clamped using titanic clips, and the specimen was extracted using a retrieval bag following resection. A drainage tube was placed after completing meticulous hemostasis. Closure of the retroperitoneum was performed using a conventional suture method.

Results: The total operation time was 249 min, with an estimated blood loss of 30 mL. The final histopathological diagnosis showed a 3.0 × 2.2 × 2.0 cm-sized hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 6 without any complications.

Conclusion: Lesions located in segment VI/VII or close to the adrenal gland were generally considered difficult for minimally invasive resection. Under these circumstances, a retroperitoneal laparoscopic hepatectomy might be a more suitable option as it is a safe, effective and complementary approach to standard minimally invasive technology for the resection of small hepatic tumors in these special locations of the liver.