Liver tumors and minimally invasive surgery: A feasibility study

Laparoscopic liver resection has not yet been established, although recent reports document that liver resection can be performed safely by the laparo scopic approach. Other interventional procedures like cryoablation have als o been introduced in treatment of liver metastases. In this report 11 liver resections performed laparoscopically in eight patients are presented. Six patients had colorectal metastases, one a metastases from a malignant mela noma, and one patient had focal nodular hyperplasia. Two patients received synchronous cryoablation of remaining liver metastases. During follow up, t wo patients received percutaneous cryoablation of liver recurrences monitor ed by an open configuration magnetic resonance scanner. All except one of t he tumors we attempted to remove had free resection margins (re-resection o f new metastasis). No complications occurred except an atelectasis of the l eft lower pulmonary lobe in one patient. Median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days, and median postoperative opioid-dependent days was 1. The repo rt demonstrates that minimally invasive techniques may safely be combined i n hepatic intervention, and that the advantages of minimally invasive surge ry, such as reduced hospital stay and less patient discomfort, also applies to liver resections.