Clinical efficacy of laparoscopic hepatectomy for the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma: a report of 84 cases

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic hepatectomy for the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods From January 2009 to January 2011,84 patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma received laparoscopic hepatectomy at the Southwest Hospital,and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.Lesions were located at the left lobe in 12 cases,left lateral lobe in 9 cases,right lobe in 3 cases,right posterior lobe in 11 cases,right anterior lobe in 11 cases,segment Ⅴ in 8 cases,segment Ⅵ in 6 cases,segment Ⅶ in 6 cases,segment Ⅴ/Ⅵ in 8 cases,segment Ⅶ/Ⅷ in 4 cases,segment Ⅳ in 5 cases and segment Ⅰ in 1 case.According to the results of preoperative ultrasonography,the tumor diameter ranged between 5.1-6.0 cm in46 cases,6.1-7.0 cm in 12 cases,7.1-8.0 cm in9 cases,8.1-9.0 cm in7 cases,9.1-10.0 cm in 10 cases.Anatomical or non-anatomical hepatectomy was performed according to the results of preoperative assessment and operative exploration.Abdominal imaging examination and serologic examination were done once every 3 months at postoperative year 1,once every 4 months at postoperative year 2,once every 6 months at postoperative year 3.The follow-up ended in January 2014.The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method.Results Eight patients were converted to laparotomy,and the rate of conversion to laparotomy was 9.5％ (8/84).Seventy-six patients received laparoscopic hepatectomy,including 30 patients received anatomical hepatectomy and 54 received non-anatomical hepatectomy.The operation time,volume of blood loss,perioperative blood transfusion rate,tumor diameter,resection margin,time for gastriontestinal function recovery,duration of postoperative hospital stay,incidence of postoperative complications were (240 ± 132) minutes,(432 ± 340) mL,10.7％ (9/84),(6.5±1.5)cm,(1.6±0.9)cm,(3.0±0.5)days,(11 ±3)days and 19.0％(16/84),respectively.All thepatients were comfirmed with HCC including 18 cases of high differentiated HCC,57 cases of moderate differentiated HCC and 9 cases of low differentiated HCC.One patient died perioperatively.Eighty-three patients were followed up for 2-48 months,the median follow-up time was 24 months,and the overall 1-and 3-year survival rates and the 1-and 3-year tumor-free survival rates were 91％,80％,70％ and 56％,respectively.Conclusion Laparoscopic hcpatcctomy is safe and feasible for selected patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma. Key words: Liver neoplasms ; Laparoscopy ; Hepatectomy