Laparoscopic liver resection

A common indication for laparoscopic liver resection is a solitary liver metastasis from colorectal cancer, but it may also be used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and for benign liver tumours or cysts.

The early stages of primary and secondary liver cancer are often asymptomatic. As the tumour grows, symptoms may include jaundice, loss of appetite, loss of weight, nausea and tiredness. Benign liver tumours are usually small and asymptomatic, but if they become large they may cause symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting.

Open surgical resection is the standard treatment for patients with localised colorectal metastases of the liver or HCC. A number of alternative therapies have also been developed, including hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy, percutaneous ethanol injection, cryoablation, microwave coagulation therapy, laser-induced thermotherapy and radiofrequency ablation. Benign liver tumours are usually treated only if they are causing symptoms; the standard treatment is open surgical resection.

Laparoscopic liver resection is performed under general anaesthesia. The abdomen is insufflated with carbon dioxide and a number of small incisions are made to provide access for the laparoscope and surgical instruments. Diathermy is used to mark the line of transection on the liver surface. The hepatic parenchyma is then transected and the main blood vessels and bile ducts are divided and closed with clips or staples. The resected liver is enclosed in a bag and removed through a small incision in the umbilical area. Haemostasis of the transection line may be obtained by several techniques including cautery, haemostatic swabs and fibrin glue.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection allows the surgeon to place one hand in the abdomen while maintaining the pneumoperitoneum required for laparoscopy. An additional small incision is made which is just large enough for the surgeon's hand, and an airtight 'sleeve' device is used to form a seal around the incision.

One study of 55 patients reported that there was no difference in the overall patient survival rate or disease-free survival rate between laparoscopic liver resection and open resection. In five studies (n = 217) that compared laparoscopic liver resection with open resection in patients with malignant tumours, there were no statistically significant differences in the extent of the resection margins.

Four of six non-randomised comparative studies reported that the postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter after laparoscopic liver resection (mean stay ranged from 4 to 15 days) than after open liver resection (mean stay ranged from 8 to 22 days). For more details, refer to the Sources of evidence.

The Specialist Advisors noted that there were concerns that resection margins may be compromised which may put the patient at risk of increased local tumour recurrence.

All of the studies reported the rate of conversion to laparotomy, which ranged from 0% (0/30) to 15% (2/13). Five of seven studies reported that blood transfusion was necessary during laparoscopic surgery in 0% (0/18) to 13% (4/30) of patients. Complications included chest infection in 15% (2/13), liver failure in 8% (1/13), ascites in 8% (1/13), atelectasis of the left lower pulmonary lobe in 8% (1/13) and biliary leak in 5% (1/21) of patients. For more details, refer to the Sources of evidence.

The Specialist Advisors stated that potential adverse effects included death due to uncontrollable haemorrhage, bile leakage, gas embolism, deep vein thrombosis and infection.