The Inter-Laennec Approach for Liver Tumors in Contact with Hepatic Veins in Laparoscopic Liver Resection.

BACKGROUND: Patients with liver tumors that are in contact with the major hepatic veins may require hepatic vein resection to achieve an adequate surgical margin; however, the potential for venous congestion and impaired remnant liver function must be considered. We introduce the anatomy of the hepatic vein related to Laennec's capsule as well as the surgical techniques to overcome these limitations in the laparoscopic approach.1,2 PATIENTS AND METHODS: A patient with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent resection of the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe. A 4.5-cm tumor was located on the hepatic hilum, compressing the middle and right hepatic veins (MHV and RHV). The Laennec's capsule around the hepatic veins consists of cardiac and hepatic layers. In the inter-Laennec approach, the hepatic veins and inferior vena cava were continuously exposed from the root side, during entry into the space between the hepatic and cardiac Laennec's capsules.3,4 Hence, the cardiac Laennec's capsule was preserved on the venous side, and the strength of the hepatic vein walls was maintained without exposing the tumor. Parenchymal transection was performed while preserving the MHV and RHV. RESULTS: The operative time was 331 min, with minimal estimated blood loss. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 6 without complications. A pathological examination revealed the presence of focal capsular invasion; however, the surgical margin was maintained by leaving the hepatic Laennec's capsule on the tumor side. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the structure of the Laennec's capsule can contribute to the establishment of safe and feasible liver resection techniques.

Laparoscopic versus open hepatic resection in patients ≥75 years old: A NSQIP analysis evaluating 2674 patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies report promising outcomes with minimally invasive (MIS) hepatectomy in elderly patients but remain limited by small size. This study aims to comparatively evaluate the demographics and outcomes of geriatric patients undergoing MIS and open hepatectomy. METHOD: The 2016-2021 NSQIP database was evaluated comparing patients ≥75 undergoing MIS versus open hepatectomy. Patient selection and outcomes were compared using bivariate analysis with multivariable modeling (MVR) evaluating factors associated with serious complications and mortality. Propensity score matched (PSM) analysis further evaluated serious complications, mortality, length of stay (LOS), Clavien Dindo Classification (CDC), and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) for cohorts. RESULTS: We evaluated 2674 patients with 681 (25.5%) receiving MIS hepatectomy. MIS approaches were used more for partial lobectomy (85.9% vs. 61.7%; p < 0.001), and required fewer biliary reconstructions (1.6% vs. 10.6%; p < 0.001). Patients were similar with regards to sex, body mass index, and other comorbidities. Unadjusted analysis demonstrated that MIS approaches had fewer serious complications (8.8% vs. 18.7%; p < 0.001). However, after controlling for cohort differences the MIS approach was not associated with reduced likelihood of serious complications (odds ratio [OR]: 0.77; p = 0.219) or mortality (OR: 1.19; p = 0.623). PSM analysis further supported no difference in serious complications (p = 0.403) or mortality (p = 0.446). However, following PSM a significant reduction in LOS (-1.99 days; p < 0.001), CDC (-0.26 points; p = 0.016) and CCI (-2.79 points; p = 0.022) was demonstrated with MIS approaches. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study comparing MIS and open hepatectomy in elderly patients. Results temper previously reported outcomes but support reduced LOS and complications with MIS approaches.

Laparoscopic liver resection or enucleation for giant hepatic hemangioma: how to choose?

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic treatment has been increasingly adopted for giant hepatic hemangioma (HH), but the role of liver resection or enucleation remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to compare the laparoscopic resection (LR) with laparoscopic enucleation (LE) for HH, and to provide evidence on how to choose the most suitable approach for HH. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of HH patients underwent laparoscopic treatment between March 2015 and August 2022 was performed. Perioperative outcomes were compared based on the surgical approaches, and risk factors for increased blood loss was calculated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients in LR group and 287 patients in LE group were enrolled in this study. The median blood loss (300 vs. 200 mL, P < 0.001) was higher in LE group than that in LR group. Independent risk factors for blood loss higher than 400 mL were tumor size ≥ 10 cm, tumor adjacent to major vessels, tumor occupying right liver or caudate lobe, and the portal phase enhancement ratio (PER) ≥ 38.9%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that LR was associated with less blood loss (155 vs. 400 mL, P < 0.001) than LE procedure in patients with high PER value. Both LR and LE approaches exhibited similar perioperative outcomes in patients with low PER value. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic treatment for HH could be feasibly and safely performed by both LE and LR. For patients with PER higher than 38.9%, the LR approach is recommended.

Evolution of laparoscopic liver resection in the last two decades: lessons from 2000 cases at a referral Korean center.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has evolved to become the standard surgical approach in many referral centers worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze how LLR evolved at a single high-volume referral center since its introduction, more than two decades ago. METHODS: Data from all consecutive LLR between January 2003 and September 2022 at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were analyzed. Perioperative outcomes were compared between three time periods, with major technological innovations considered as landmarks: before introduction of laparoscopic-US and CUSA (2003-2006), before (2006-2015) and after (2015-2022) introduction of high-definition scope. RESULTS: During the analyzed time periods the number of technically challenging procedures increased from 39.2 to 61.1% (p < 0.001). The most recent period showed shorter median operation time (from 267.5' to 175', p < 0.001), lower median estimated blood loss (EBL) (from 500 to 300 ml, p < 0.001), lower intraoperative transfusions (from 33.8 to 9.3%, p < 0.001), shorter median postoperative hospital stay (from 12 to 6 days, p < 0.001). The time period, a technical major resection and an underlying liver cirrhosis were found to be the associated with longer operation time (p < 0.001) in the multivariable linear regression analysis, while tumor size, technically major surgeries and liver cirrhosis were associated with higher EBL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: During the last two decades, the indications for patients undergoing LLR have expanded significantly, including more and more challenging procedures and frail patients. Despite such challenges, perioperative outcomes improved, although technically major procedures, cirrhotic patients and huge tumors have still to be considered challenging situations.

Laparoscopic and open minor liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with clinically significant portal hypertension: a multicenter study using inverse probability weighting approach.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection offers substantial advantages over open liver resection (OLR) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of reduced intraoperative blood loss and morbidity. However, there is limited evidence comparing the indications and perioperative outcomes with the open versus laparoscopic approach for resection. This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and OLR for HCC with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). METHODS: A total of 316 HCC patients with CSPH (the presence of gastroesophageal varices or platelet count < 100,000/ml and spleen diameter > 12 cm) undergoing minor liver resection at eight centers were included in this study. To adjust for confounding factors between the LLR and OLR groups, an inverse probability weighting method analysis was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 193 patients underwent LLR and 123 underwent OLR. After weighting, LLR was associated with a lower volume of intraoperative blood loss and the incidence of postoperative complications (including pulmonary complications, incisional surgical site infection, and paralytic ileus) compared to the OLR group. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year postoperative recurrence-free survival rates were 39%, 26%, and 22% in the LLR group and 49%, 18%, and 18% in the OLR group, respectively (p = 0.18). And, the 3-, 5-, and 7-year postoperative overall survival rates were 71%, 56%, and 44% in the LLR group and 76%, 51%, 44% in the OLR group, respectively (p = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: LLR for HCC patients with CSPH is clinically advantageous by lowering the volume of intraoperative blood loss and incidence of postoperative complications, thereby offering feasible long-term survival.

Risk factor analysis of conversion in laparoscopic liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) requiring conversion to open surgery have not been adequately studied. This study aimed to determine the risk factors and postoperative outcomes of conversion in patients with ICC. METHODS: From May 2014 to September 2022, Unplanned conversions were compared with successful LLRs. RESULTS: 153 patients with ICC initially underwent LLR, of which 41 (26.8%) required conversion to open surgery. Multivariate analysis for those factors that were statistically significant or confirmed by clinical studies, tumor proximity to the major vessels (OR 6.643, P < 0.001), and previous upper abdominal surgery (OR 3.140, P = 0.040) were independent predictors of unplanned conversions. Compared to successful LLRs, unplanned conversions showed longer operative times (300.0 vs. 225.0 min, P < 0.001), more blood loss (500.0 vs. 200.0 mL, P < 0.001), higher transfusion rates (46.3% vs. 11.6%, P < 0.001), longer length of stays (13.0 vs. 8.0 days, P < 0.001), and higher rates of major morbidity (39.0% vs. 11.6%, P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in 30-day or 90-day mortality between the conversion group and the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSION: Conversion during LLR should be anticipated in ICC patients with prior upper abdominal surgery or tumor proximity to major vessels as features.

Robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection for liver malignancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of propensity score-matched studies.

OBJECTIVE: How different surgical procedures, including the robotic-assisted liver resection (RLR) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), can affect the prognosis of patients with liver malignancies is unclear. Thus, in this study, we compared the effects of RLR and LLR on the surgical and oncological outcomes in patients with liver malignancies through propensity score-matched cohort studies. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings terms and keywords from inception until May 31, 2023. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. The mean difference with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used for analysis of continuous variables; the risk ratio with 95% CI was used for dichotomous variables; and the hazard ratio with 95% CI was used for survival-related variables. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Five high-quality cohort studies with 986 patients were included (370 and 616 cases for RLR and LLR, respectively). In terms of surgical outcomes, there were no significant differences in the operation time, conversion rate to open surgery, overall complication rate, major complication rate, and length of hospital stay between the RLR and LLR groups. In terms of oncological outcomes, there were no significant differences in the 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Surgical and oncological outcomes are comparable between RLR and LLR on patients with liver malignancies. Therefore, the benefits of applying RLR in patients with liver malignancies need to be further explored.

Caudo-dorsal approach combined with the occlusion of right hepatic vein and Pringle maneuver in laparoscopic anatomical resection of segment 7.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic anatomical resection of segment 7 (LARS7) remains a technically challenging procedure due to the deep anatomical location and the potential risk of injury to the right hepatic vein (RHV). Herein, we initiated an innovative technique of caudo-dorsal approach combined with the occlusion of the RHV and Pringle maneuver for LARS7 and presented the outcomes of our initial series. METHOD: Since January 2021, the patients who underwent LARS7 by using this novel technique were enrolled in this study. The critical aspect of this technique was the interruption of communication between the RHV and the inferior vena cava. Meanwhile, the Pringle maneuver was adopted to control the hepatic inflow. RESULT: A total of 11 patients underwent LARS7 by using this novel technique, which included 8 hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 bile duct adenocarcinoma and one focal nodular hyperplasia. The median operative time was 199 min (range of 151-318 min) and the median blood loss was 150 ml (range of 50-200 ml). The main trunk of the RHV was fully exposed on the cutting surface in all cases and no patient received perioperative blood transfusion. No procedure was converted to open surgery. Of note, no indications of CO2 gas embolism were observed in these cases after the introduction of double occlusion. Only one patient suffered from postoperative complications and healed after treatment. The median postoperative stay was 5 days (range of 4-7 days). The 90-day mortality was nil. At a median follow-up period of 19 months, all of the patients were alive without any evidence of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: The caudo-dorsal approach combined with the occlusion of RHV and the Pringle maneuver may be a feasible and expected technique for safe exposure of RHV in LARS7. Further validation of the feasibility and efficacy of this technique is needed.

Comparison between laparoscopic liver resection and open liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the outcomes of surgical treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have improved. However, despite the technical advancements in laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), it is still not recommended as the standard treatment for HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) because of the poor oncological outcomes. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of open liver resection (OLR) and LLR in patients with HCC with PVTT. METHODS: A total of 86 patients with PVTT confirmed in the pathological report between January 2014 and December 2018, were enrolled. Short-term, postoperative, and long-term outcomes, including recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates, were evaluated. RESULTS: No difference between the two groups, except for age, was detected. The median age in the laparoscopic group was significantly higher than that in the open group. Regarding the pathological features, the maximal tumor size was significantly larger in the OLR; other pathological factors did not differ. There was no significant difference between overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Vp3 PVTT (hazards ratio [HR] 6.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-18.5), Edmondson grade IV (HR 4.7, 95% CI 1.7-12.9, p = 0.003), and intrahepatic metastasis (HR 3.9, 95% CI 2.1-7.2, p < 0.001) remained the unique independent predictors of recurrence-free survival according to a multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic liver resection for the management of HCC with PVTT provides the same short- and long-term results as those of the open approach.

Laparoscopic versus open liver resection for huge hepatocellular carcinoma (≥ than 10 cm): a retrospective analysis from a high-volume referral center.

BACKGROUND: There is still poor evidence about the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for huge (> 10 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). The aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term outcomes of LLR versus open liver resection (OLR) for patients with huge HCC from real-life data from consecutive patients. METHODS: Data regarding all consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for huge HCC were retrospectively collected from a Korean referral HPB center. Primary outcomes were the postoperative results, while secondary outcomes were the oncologic survivals. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were included in the study: 46 undergoing OLR and 17 LLR. Regarding postoperative outcomes, there were no statistically significant differences in estimated blood loss, operation time, transfusions, postoperative bile leak, ascites, severe complications, and R1 resection rates. After a median follow-up of 48.4 (95% CI 8.9-86.8) months, there were no statistically significant differences in 3 years OS (59.3 ± 8.7 months vs. 85.2 ± 9.8 months) and 5 years OS (31.1 ± 9 months vs. 73.1 ± 14.1 months), after OLR and LLR, respectively (p = 0.10). Similarly, there was not a statistically significant difference in both 3 years DFS (23.5% ± 8.1 months vs. 51.6 ± months) and 5 years DFS (15.7 ± 7.1 months vs. 38.7 ± 15.3 months), respectively (p = 0.13), despite a potential clinically significant difference. CONCLUSION: LLR for huge HCC may be safe and effective in selected cases. Further studies with larger sample size and more appropriate design are needed to confirm these results.

Intraoperative artificial intelligence system identifying liver vessels in laparoscopic liver resection: a retrospective experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The precise recognition of liver vessels during liver parenchymal dissection is the crucial technique for laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). This retrospective feasibility study aimed to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models to recognize liver vessels in LLR, and to evaluate their accuracy and real-time performance. METHODS: Images from LLR videos were extracted, and the hepatic veins and Glissonean pedicles were labeled separately. Two AI models were developed to recognize liver vessels: the "2-class model" which recognized both hepatic veins and Glissonean pedicles as equivalent vessels and distinguished them from the background class, and the "3-class model" which recognized them all separately. The Feature Pyramid Network was used as a neural network architecture for both models in their semantic segmentation tasks. The models were evaluated using fivefold cross-validation tests, and the Dice coefficient (DC) was used as an evaluation metric. Ten gastroenterological surgeons also evaluated the models qualitatively through rubric. RESULTS: In total, 2421 frames from 48 video clips were extracted. The mean DC value of the 2-class model was 0.789, with a processing speed of 0.094 s. The mean DC values for the hepatic vein and the Glissonean pedicle in the 3-class model were 0.631 and 0.482, respectively. The average processing time for the 3-class model was 0.097 s. Qualitative evaluation by surgeons revealed that false-negative and false-positive ratings in the 2-class model averaged 4.40 and 3.46, respectively, on a five-point scale, while the false-negative, false-positive, and vessel differentiation ratings in the 3-class model averaged 4.36, 3.44, and 3.28, respectively, on a five-point scale. CONCLUSION: We successfully developed deep-learning models that recognize liver vessels in LLR with high accuracy and sufficient processing speed. These findings suggest the potential of a new real-time automated navigation system for LLR.

Anatomical liver resection using the ultrasound-guided compression technique in minimal access surgery.

BACKGROUND: Segmental or subsegmental anatomical resection (AR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in minimal access liver surgery (MALS) has been technically proposed. The Glissonean approach or dye injection technique are generally adopted. The tumor-feeding portal pedicle compression technique (C-AR) is an established approach in open surgery, but its feasibility in the MALS environment has never been described. METHODS: Eligible patients were prospectively enrolled to undergo laparoscopic or robotic ultrasound-guided C-AR based on HCC location and preoperative identification of a single tumor-feeding portal pedicle. Initial C-AR experience was gained with laparoscopic cases in the beginning of 2020. Following our progressive experience in laparoscopic C-AR, patients requiring AR for HCC were consecutively selected for robotic C-AR. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients underwent minimal access C-AR. All patients had Child-Pugh A HCC. The surgical procedures included 6 laparoscopic and 4 robotic C-AR. Median tumor size was 3.1 cm (range 2-7 cm). All procedures had R0 margin. Postoperative complications were nil. CONCLUSION: C-AR technique is a feasible and promising technique for patients eligible for laparoscopic and robotic AR for HCC. Further data are necessary to validate its applicability to more complex minimal access AR.

Outcomes after laparoscopic or open liver resection for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matching study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is rapidly gaining popularity; however, its efficacy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (NAFLD-HCC) has been not evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes between LLR and open liver resection (OLR) among patients with NAFLD-HCC. METHODS: We used a single-institution database to analyze data for patients who underwent LLR or OLR for NAFLD-HCC from January 2007 to December 2022. We performed propensity score-matching analyses to compare overall postoperative complications, major morbidities, duration of surgery, blood loss, transfusion, length of stay, recurrence, and survival between the two groups. RESULTS: Among 210 eligible patients, 46 pairs were created by propensity score matching. Complication rates were 28% for OLR and 11% for LLR (p = 0.036). There were no significant differences in major morbidities (15% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.522) or duration of surgery (199 min vs. 189 min, p = 0.785). LLR was associated with a lower incidence of blood transfusion (22% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.013), less blood loss (415 vs. 54 mL, p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (9 vs. 6 days, p < 0.001). Differences in recurrence-free survival and overall survival between the two groups were not statistically significant (p = 0.222 and 0.301, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LLR was superior to OLR for NAFLD-HCC in terms of overall postoperative complications, blood loss, blood transfusion, and postoperative length of stay. Moreover, recurrence-free survival and overall survival were comparable between LLR and OLR. Although there is a need for careful LLR candidate selection according to tumor size and location, LLR can be regarded as a preferred treatment for NAFLD-HCC over OLR.

Evolution of minimally invasive liver surgery in France over the last decade.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence of benefits on postoperative outcomes, minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS) had a very low diffusion up to 2014, and recent evolution is unknown. Our aim was to analyze the recent diffusion and adoption of MILS and compare the trends in indications, extent of resection, and institutional practice with open liver surgery (OLS). METHODS: We analyzed the French nationwide, exhaustive cohort of all patients undergoing a liver resection in France between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2022. Average annual percentage changes (AAPC) in the incidence of MILS and OLS were compared using mixed-effects log-linear regression models. Time trends were analyzed in terms of extent of resection, indication, and institutional practice. RESULTS: MILS represented 25.2% of 74,671 liver resections and year incidence doubled from 16.5% in 2013 to 35.4% in 2022. The highest AAPC were observed among major liver resections [+ 22.2% (19.5; 24.9) per year], primary [+ 10.2% (8.5; 12.0) per year], and secondary malignant tumors [+ 9.9% (8.2; 11.6) per year]. The highest increase in MILS was observed in university hospitals [+ 14.7% (7.7; 22.2) per year] performing 48.8% of MILS and in very high-volume (> 150 procedures/year) hospitals [+ 12.1% (9.0; 15.3) per year] performing 19.7% of MILS. OLS AAPC decreased for all indications and institutions and accelerated over time from - 1.8% (- 3.9; - 0.3) per year in 2013-2018 to - 5.9% (- 7.9; - 3.9) per year in 2018-2022 (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported trend reversal between MILS and OLS. MILS has considerably increased at a national scale, crossing the 20% tipping point of adoption rate as defined by the IDEAL framework.

Comparison of laparoscopic liver resection for the ventral versus the dorsal areas of segment 8.

PURPOSE: The technical difficulties of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) are greatly associated with the location of liver tumors. Since segment 8 (S8) contains a wide area, the difficulty of LLR for S8 tumors may vary depending on the location within the segment, such as the ventral (S8v) and dorsal (S8d) area, but the difference is unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 30 patients who underwent primary laparoscopic partial liver resection for liver tumors in S8 at Kobe University Hospital between January 2018 and June 2023. RESULTS: Thirteen and 17 patients underwent LLR for S8v and S8d, respectively. The operation time was significantly longer (S8v 203[135-259] vs. S8d 261[186-415] min, P = 0.002) and the amount of blood loss was significantly higher (10[10-150] vs. 10[10-200] mL, P = 0.034) in the S8d group than in the S8v group. No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications or postoperative length of hospital stay. Additionally, intraoperative findings revealed that the rate at which the case performed partial liver mobilization in the S8d group was higher (2[15.4%] vs. 8[47.1%], P = 0.060) and the median parenchymal transection time of the S8d group was longer (102[27-148] vs. 129[37-175] min, P = 0.097) than those in the S8v group, but there were no significant differences. CONCLUSION: The safety of LLR for the S8d was comparable to that of LLR for S8v, although LLR for S8d resulted in longer operative time and more blood loss. THE TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: B230165 (approved at December 26, 2023).

Efficacy and safety of laparoscopic liver resection versus radiofrequency ablation in patients with early and small hepatocellular carcinoma: an updated meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, accounting for 90% of cases worldwide and a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths. This study comprehensively compares the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) versus laparoscopic or percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (LRFA or PRFA) in patients with early and small HCC. METHODS: We systematically searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to include studies comparing LLR versus LRFA or PRFA in patients with early HCC meets the Milan criteria (defined as solitary nodule < 5 cm or three nodules ≤ 3 cm with no extrahepatic spread or vascular invasion). Pooled results were examined for overall survival, disease-free survival, recurrence-free survival, local, intrahepatic and extrahepatic recurrence rates, and complications. We conducted subgroup analyses based on the type of RFA. Meta-regression analyzed the association between overall survival, local recurrence, and various factors. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We analyzed the data using the R (v.4.3.0) programming language and the "meta" package of RStudio software. RESULTS: We included 19 observational studies, compromising 3756 patients. LLR showed higher 5-year overall survival compared to RFA (RR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.06, 1.3], P > 0.01). Our subgroup analysis showed that LLR had higher 5-year survival than PRFA (RR = 1.15, 95% CI [1.02, 1.31], P = 0.03); however, there was no significant difference between LLR and LRFA (RR = 1.26, 95% CI [0.98, 1.63], P = 0.07). LLR was associated with higher disease-free survival) RR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.05, 1.35], P < 0.01; RR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.31, 1.98], P < 0.01(and recurrence-free survival) RR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.09, 1.35], P < 0.01; RR = 1.45, 95% CI [1.15, 1.84], P < 0.01(at 1 and 3 years. LLR was associated with lower local (RR = 0.28, 95% CI [0.16, 0.47], P < 0.01) and intrahepatic recurrence (RR = 0.7, 95% CI [0.5, 0.97], P = 0.03) than RFA. However, complications were significantly higher with LLR (RR = 2.01, 95% CI [1.51, 2.68], P < 0.01). Our meta-regression analysis showed that younger patients had higher risk for local recurrence (P = 0.008), while age wasn't significantly linked to overall survival (P = 0.25). Other covariates like total bilirubin, alpha-fetoprotein levels, and tumor size also showed no significant associations with either overall survival or local recurrence. CONCLUSION: LLR offers improved long-term outcomes and lower recurrence rates than PRFA. However, no significant distinctions were observed between LRFA and LLR in overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and local recurrence. More robust well-designed RCTs are essential to validate our findings.

Indications of pro-inflammatory cytokines in laparoscopic and open liver resection for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Our clinical practice of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) had achieved better short-term and long-term benefits for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over open liver resection (OLR), but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study was to find out whether systemic inflammation plays an important role. METHODS: A total of 103 patients with early-stage HCC under liver resection were enrolled (LLR group, n = 53; OLR group, n = 50). The expression of 9 inflammatory cytokines in patients at preoperation, postoperative day 1 (POD1) and POD7 was quantified by Luminex Multiplex assay. The relationships of the cytokines and the postoperative outcomes were compared between LLR and OLR. RESULTS: Seven of the circulating cytokines were found to be significantly upregulated on POD1 after LLR or OLR compared to their preoperative levels. Compared to OLR, the POD1 levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the LLR group were significantly lower. Higher POD1 levels of these cytokines were significantly correlated with longer operative time and higher volume of blood loss during operation. The levels of these cytokines were positively associated with postoperative liver injury, and the length of hospital stay. Importantly, a high level of IL-6 at POD1 was a risk factor for HCC recurrence and poor disease-free survival after liver resection. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly lower level of GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 after liver resection represented a milder systemic inflammation which might be an important mechanism to offer better short-term and long-term outcomes in LLR over OLR.

Laparoscopic Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy (L-ALPPS) After Conversion Therapy for BCLC-B Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Video Article.

BACKGROUND: Despite the ALPPS technique remains a controversy, various ALPPS techniques have made many attempts.1-6 This video discusses the technical tips for L-ALPPS after conversion therapy. METHODS: A 56-year-old, HCC patient who performed the abdominal CT showed a 6.0*5.7-cm-sized mass with intrahepatic metastasis. After four cycles of conversion therapy, the patient achieved a radiologic complete response. However, the standardized, remnant liver volume ratio (SRLVR) was only 34%. Thus, L-ALPPS was contemplated. RESULTS: After full mobilization, intraoperative ultrasonography marked the main trunk of MHV. The concept of "Laennec membrane anatomy" was introduced.7 The anterior pedicle (AP) and the posterior pedicle (PP) were elastically suspended along the Laennec membrane. The conventional hilar dissection approach was used to isolate and suspend RHA and the right portal vein (RPV). Then, IRHV and short hepatic vein were clipped and cut. The Pringle maneuver was used intermittently during the parenchymal transection. Hepatic resection was performed from the caudal to the cranial side along MHV after RPV was ligated. The RHV was elastically suspended after hepatic resection. The omentum was used to cover the resection surface. Stage 2, preoperative SRLVR increased to 68.3%. The adhesion of the right hemiliver was bluntly separated. AP, PP, and RHV were divided by the stapler respectively. Operation time and bleeding volume for stage-1 surgery and stage-2 surgery were 240 min and 80 min, 200 ml and 250 ml, respectively. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: L-ALPPS as a surgical option seems to be feasible and safe for intermediate-advanced HCC after conversion therapy.

Impact of Tumor Size on the Difficulty of Laparoscopic Major Hepatectomies: An International Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although tumor size (TS) is known to affect surgical outcomes in laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), its impact on laparoscopic major hepatectomy (L-MH) is not well studied. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of TS on the perioperative outcomes of L-MH and to elucidate the optimal TS cutoff for stratifying the difficulty of L-MH. METHODS: This was a post-hoc analysis of 3008 patients who underwent L-MH at 48 international centers. A total 1396 patients met study criteria and were included. The impact of TS cutoffs was investigated by stratifying TS at each 10-mm interval. The optimal cutoffs were determined taking into consideration the number of endpoints which showed a statistically significant split around the cut-points of interest and the magnitude of relative risk after correction for multiple risk factors. RESULTS: We identified 2 optimal TS cutoffs, 50 mm and 100 mm, which segregated L-MH into 3 groups. An increasing TS across these 3 groups (≤ 50 mm, 51-100 mm, > 100 mm), was significantly associated with a higher open conversion rate (11.2%, 14.7%, 23.0%, P < 0.001), longer operating time (median, 340 min, 346 min, 365 min, P = 0.025), increased blood loss (median, 300 ml,  ml, 400 ml, P = 0.002) and higher rate of intraoperative blood transfusion (13.1%, 15.9%, 27.6%, P < 0.001). Postoperative outcomes such as overall morbidity, major morbidity, and length of stay were comparable across the three groups. CONCLUSION: Increasing TS was associated with poorer intraoperative but not postoperative outcomes after L-MH. We determined 2 TS cutoffs (50 mm and 10 mm) which could optimally stratify the surgical difficulty of L-MH.

Efficacy of laparoscopic liver resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma located in the posterosuperior segments: A multi-institutional study using propensity score matching by the Kyushu Study Group of Liver Surgery.

AIM: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located in the posterosuperior segments (PS) have generally been considered more difficult than those for HCC in anterolateral segments (AL), but may be safe and feasible for selected patients with accumulated experience. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of LLR for single nodular HCCs ≤3 cm located in PS. METHODS: In total, 473 patients who underwent partial liver resection for single nodular HCCs ≤3 cm at the 18 institutions belonging to the Kyusyu Study Group of Liver Surgery from January 2010 to December 2018 were enrolled. The short-term outcomes of laparoscopic partial liver resection and open liver resection (OLR) for HCCs ≤3 cm, with subgroup analysis of PS and AL, were compared using propensity score-matching analysis. Furthermore, results were also compared between LLR-PS and LLR-AL. RESULTS: The original cohort of patients with HCC ≤3 cm included 328 patients with LLR and 145 with OLR. After matching, 140 patients with LLR and 140 with OLR were analyzed. Significant differences were found between groups in terms of volume of blood loss (median, 55 vs. 287 ml, p < 0.001), postoperative complications (0.71 vs. 8.57%, p = 0.003), and postoperative hospital stay (median, 9 vs. 14 days, p < 0.001). The results of subgroup analysis of PS were similar. Short-term outcomes did not differ significantly between LLR-PS and LLR-AL after matching. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic partial resection could be the preferred option for single nodular HCCs ≤3 cm located in PS.