Short-term results after minimally invasive and open liver resection for liver metastases of colorectal cancer: a single center experience

Abstract

Rationale: Until now, safety of minimally invasive liver resection (MILR) has not been studied sufficiently.Aim: To assess immediate results of MILR and open type resections in patients with colorectal metastases, performed in the Russian center of surgical hepatology specialized at implementation of minimally invasive techniques.Materials and мethods: This was a retrospective observational case-control study. Patients who underwent surgery for isolated liver metastases of colorectal cancer in a single center from October 2013 to February 2018 were included into the study.Results: As per December 2017, over 500 resections have been performed in the study center, including 226 MILR. One hundred two patients underwent open resection and MILR for colorectal metastases. From 83 patients enrolled into the study, 51 (61%) had MILR, including 7 robotic MILR. The open resection and MILR groups did not differ in terms of gender, age, ASA score, primary tumors location and stage by the time of primary intervention. There were no between-group differences for factors that determine the tumor spread and influence the resection problems, i.e. the difficulty index of MILR, rate of anatomic resection, resection of complex segments, vascular involvement, size and number of metastases, multiple liver lesions and bilobar metastases. No difference was found for immediate outcomes in terms of frequency of the free surgical margin > 2 mm, rate of the Pringle maneuver implementation, duration of the procedure, blood components transfusion, severe complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade > II), and time in intensive care unit. Compared to open procedures, MILR were associated with significantly less blood loss: 583 (50–3000) mL vs. 308 (0–3300) mL (p = 0.012), respectively, and shorter duration of hospital stay: 10 (4–29) days vs. 9 (4–29) days (р < 0.001), respectively.Conclusion: In a specialized surgical hepatology center, MILR can be performed equally to complex open procedures without changes in the rates and types of complications, but with an improvement of immediate outcomes.