A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the short- and long-term outcomes for laparoscopic and open liver resections for liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic approach to liver resection has experienced exponential growth in recent years. However, evidence-based guidelines are needed for its safe future progression. The main aim of our study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open liver resections for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). METHODS: To identify all the comparative manuscripts between laparoscopic and open liver resections for CRLM, all published English language studies with more than ten cases were screened. In addition to the primary meta-analysis, 3 specific subgroup analyses were performed on patients undergoing minor-only, major-only and synchronous resections. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) methodology and Newcastle-Ottawa Score. RESULTS: From the initial 194 manuscripts identified, 21 were meta-analysed, including results from the first randomized trial comparing open and laparoscopic resections of CRLM. Five of these were specific to patients undergoing a synchronous resection (399 cases), while six focused on minor (3 series including 226 cases) and major (3 series including 135 cases) resections, respectively. Thirteen manuscripts compared 2543 cases but could not be assigned to any of the above sub-analyses, so were analysed independently. The majority of short-term outcomes were favourable to the laparoscopic approach with equivalent rates of negative resection margins. No differences were observed between the approaches in overall or disease-free survival at 1, 3 or 5 years. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection for CRLM offers improved short-term outcomes with comparable long-term outcomes when compared to open approach.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing the Short- and Long-Term Outcomes for Laparoscopic and Open Liver Resections for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Updated Results from the European Guidelines Meeting on Laparoscopic Liver Surgery, Southampton, UK, 2017.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic approach to liver resection has experienced exponential growth in recent years; however, its application is still under debate and objective, evidence-based guidelines for its safe future progression are needed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: To identify all the comparative manuscripts reporting on laparoscopic and open liver resection for HCC, all published English-language studies with more than 10 cases were screened. In addition to the primary meta-analysis, four specific subgroup analyses were performed on patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis, resections for solitary tumors, and those undergoing minor and major resections. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) methodology and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: From the initial 361 manuscripts, 28 were included in the meta-analysis. Five of these 28 manuscripts were specific to patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis (321 cases), 11 focused on solitary tumors (1003 cases), 16 focused on minor resections (1286 cases), and 3 focused on major resections (164 cases). Three manuscripts compared 1079 cases but could not be assigned to any of the above subanalyses. In general terms, short-term outcomes were favorable when using a laparoscopic approach, especially in minor resections. The only advantage seen with an open approach was reduced operative time during major liver resections. No differences in long-term outcomes were observed between the approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC is feasible and offers improved short-term outcomes, with comparable long-term outcomes as the open approach.

Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic organ-sparing resection in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic organ-sparing pancreatectomy (LOSP) is an ideal therapeutic option in selected cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Nevertheless, given the low frequency of PNETs, there is scarce evidence regarding short and particularly long-term outcomes of LOSP in this clinical setting. METHODS: All patients with PNETs who underwent surgery (under a LOSP policy) were retrospectively reviewed from a prospective database maintained at our center. Preoperative characteristics, operative data, pathological features and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Between December 2003 and December 2015, 36 patients with PNETs underwent laparoscopic resections. Ten were functional tumors, 26 non-functional and 16 were "incidental" cases. The following procedures were performed: one enucleation, eight central pancreatectomies (LCP), one resection of the uncinate process and 26 distal pancreatectomies (DP) (15 of them laparoscopic vessels-preserving). There were no conversions to open surgery, and no drains were routinely left. Mean operative time was 288 min (SD 99). Hospital stay was 6 days. Eighteen patients (50%) experienced some complication of which most were mild (Clavien-Dindo I/II). Three postoperative bleedings occurred: two grade B/one grade C; two required laparoscopic reoperation. Thirteen (36.1%) patients developed peripancreatic fluid collections: two were symptomatic and were managed with transgastric drainage (one presented post-puncture abscesification requiring surgical drainage and splenectomy). Four patients (11%)-one DP and three LCP-developed new-onset pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus (NODM) in the long term. According to the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, 19 cases were stage I, seven IIA, two IIIA, one IIIB and seven stage IV. Over a mean follow-up of 51 months, two patients died, one due to recurrence of the tumor and another due to cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: The existing different surgical options must be individually considered according to the location and particular characteristics of every tumor. Results from this single-center study document the effectiveness of LOSP in selected cases of PNETs.