Laparoscopic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery:my trials and current status in Korea

There has been a dramatic change in surgical care over the past 30 years with the introduction of laparoscopic surgery. It was my great fortune that I could experience laparoscopic surgery during my resident training period. After beginning to work for my hospital in 1995, I tried laparoscopic surgery in many surgical fields, including hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP), colon, stomach, and vascular surgery (endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting, endoscopic subfascial perforating vein interruption to treat skin complications in patients with deep vein insufficiency in the lower leg). In Sabiston, Textbook of Surgery, published in 1997, laparoscopic Whipple and major liver resection were not accepted at the time but now are. There are three possible reasons that may explain this shift. The first one is the 30 years of experience using advanced techniques; all of us know that “Seeing is believing,” and “A thousand hearings are not worth one seeing.” Next is the availability of three-dimensional imaging with magnification which enables us to perform difficult surgeries. The last one is the use of good instruments and an advanced surgical platform. In this paper, I would like to share my past and recent trials with advanced HBP laparoscopic surgery, as well as its current status in Korea and future directions.

Laparoscopic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery:my trials and current status in Korea

There has been a dramatic change in surgical care over the past 30 years with the introduction of laparoscopic surgery. It was my great fortune that I could experience laparoscopic surgery during my resident training period. After beginning to work for my hospital in 1995, I tried laparoscopic surgery in many surgical fields, including hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP), colon, stomach, and vascular surgery (endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting, endoscopic subfascial perforating vein interruption to treat skin complications in patients with deep vein insufficiency in the lower leg). In Sabiston, Textbook of Surgery, published in 1997, laparoscopic Whipple and major liver resection were not accepted at the time but now are. There are three possible reasons that may explain this shift. The first one is the 30 years of experience using advanced techniques; all of us know that “Seeing is believing,” and “A thousand hearings are not worth one seeing.” Next is the availability of three-dimensional imaging with magnification which enables us to perform difficult surgeries. The last one is the use of good instruments and an advanced surgical platform. In this paper, I would like to share my past and recent trials with advanced HBP laparoscopic surgery, as well as its current status in Korea and future directions.

A Comparison of Short-Term Outcomes between Laparoscopic and Open Liver Resection in Elderly Patients

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes between laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) in elderly patients with hepatic tumors. @*Methods@#From January 2013 to December 2019, a retrospective study was conducted for a total of 143 patients with over 70 years of age, who underwent liver resection for hepatic tumors. Forty-five patients who received biliary reconstruction at the same time were excluded. According to surgical approaches, 98 patients were classified into LLR and OLR groups. All postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). @*Results@#Incidence of the postoperative complications was not statistically different between LLR and OLR groups. The CCI was significantly lower in the LLR group, with a median of 8.556, and a median of 19.698 in the OLR group (p=0.042). The length of hospital stay in the LLR group was significantly shorter than in the OLR group (p=0.008). @*Conclusion@#LLR is safe and feasible as a treatment for hepatic tumor in elderly patients with potentially less postoperative complications compared to OLR.

A Comparison of Short-Term Outcomes between Laparoscopic and Open Liver Resection in Elderly Patients

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes between laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) in elderly patients with hepatic tumors. @*Methods@#From January 2013 to December 2019, a retrospective study was conducted for a total of 143 patients with over 70 years of age, who underwent liver resection for hepatic tumors. Forty-five patients who received biliary reconstruction at the same time were excluded. According to surgical approaches, 98 patients were classified into LLR and OLR groups. All postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). @*Results@#Incidence of the postoperative complications was not statistically different between LLR and OLR groups. The CCI was significantly lower in the LLR group, with a median of 8.556, and a median of 19.698 in the OLR group (p=0.042). The length of hospital stay in the LLR group was significantly shorter than in the OLR group (p=0.008). @*Conclusion@#LLR is safe and feasible as a treatment for hepatic tumor in elderly patients with potentially less postoperative complications compared to OLR.

Preliminary Findings on the Effectiveness of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy in Patients with Pancreatobiliary Cancer

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effectiveness of meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP), which is known to be a helpful psychotherapeutic intervention in distressing conditions, for patients with pancreatobiliary cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 37 patients with pancreatobiliary cancer from three university general hospitals and assessed their psychological characteristics. Patients who reported clinically significant emotional distress were recommended to undergo MCP. Patients who consented to MCP were provided four sessions of the therapy. Patient psychological characteristics were assessed again 2 months after MCP. For statistical comparison, outcome variables included anxiety, depression, mental adjustment to cancer, and quality of life (QoL), as well as the degree of stress and physical symptoms. RESULTS: Sixteen patients completed the MCP and the final assessment 2 months later. In the initial assessment, the patients receiving MCP showed higher levels of anxiety and depression than those not receiving MCP, and QoL was also lower in terms of role function, emotional function, social function, and global QoL. At the 2-month follow-up, the MCP group showed a significant improvement in anxiety (p=0.007), depression (p=0.010), and anxious preoccupation (p < 0.001). In addition, QoL significantly improved in the MCP group, while there was no significant change in the non-MCP group. CONCLUSION: In this study, MCP showed potential therapeutic benefits against emotional distress in patients with pancreatobiliary cancer, improving their QoL.

The risk factors of early recurrence after hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE: Early recurrence after hepatectomy is a well-known poor prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was undertaken to identify the risk factors of early recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-seven patients that underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma from January 2005 to December 2010 were enrolled. The numbers of patients with or without early recurrence group were 40 and 127, respectively. Clinico-pathologic factors were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Potential risk factors were classified as host, tumor, or surgical factors. Of the host factors examined, lobular hepatitis activity was found to be a significant risk factor of early recurrence, and of the tumor factors, infiltrative type of gross appearance, level of preoperative AFP and worst Edmondson-Steiner grade were significant. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that an infiltrative gross appearance, a high preoperative AFP level, high lobular hepatitis activity, and a poor Edmondson-Steiner grade are independent risk factors of early recurrence. Accordingly, patients with these risk factors should be followed closely after hepatectomy.

Rationale and surgical technique of laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy using endoscopic staples

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLLS) has been widely accepted due to benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Some surgeons prefer to isolate glissonian pedicles to segments II and III and to control individual pedicles with surgical clips, whereas opt like to control glissonian pedicles simultaneously using endoscopic stapling devices. The aim of this study was to find the rationale of LLLS using endoscopic staples. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed and compared the clinical outcomes (operation time, drainage length, transfusion, hospital stay, and complication rate) of 35 patients that underwent LLLS between April 2004 and February 2012. Patients were dichotomized by surgical technique based on whether glissonian pedicles were isolated and controlled (the individual group, n = 21) or controlled using endoscopic staples at once (the batch group, n = 14). RESULTS: Mean operation time was 265.3 +/- 21.3 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation) in the individual group and 170 +/- 22.9 minutes in the batch group. Operation time in the batch group was significantly shorter than the individual group (P = 0.007). Mean drainage length was 4.8 +/- 1.6 and 2.6 +/- 1.5 days in the individual and the batch group. There was significantly shorter in the batch group, also (P = 0.006). No transfusion was required in the batch group, but 4 patients in the individual group needed transfusion. Mean hospital stay was 10.7 +/- 1.1 and 9.4 +/- 0.8 days in the individual and the batch groups (P = 0.460). There were no significant complications or mortality in both groups. CONCLUSION: LLLS using endoscopic staples (batch group) was found to be an easier and safer technique without morbidity or mortality.

The comparison of oncologic and clinical outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE: We evaluate the operative outcome and oncologic outcome of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and compare with open liver resection. METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2012, clinical data of 70 patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection for HCC (laparoscopic liver resection group, lapa-group) were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Control group (open liver resection group, open-group) were retrospectively matched, and compared with lapa-group. RESULTS: Laparoscopic major liver resections were performed in 4 patients. Laparoscopic anatomical resections and nonanatomical resections were performed in 39 patients, and 31 patients, respectively. Mean operative time was shorter in lapa-group (215.5 +/- 121.84 minutes vs. 282.30 +/- 80.34 minutes, P = 0.001), mean intraoperative transfusion rate and total amount were small in lapa-group (24.28%, 148.57 +/- 3,354.98 mL vs. 40.78%, 311.71 +/- 477.01 mL). Open conversion occurred in 6 patients (8.57%) because of bleeding, inadequate resection, invisible mass on intraoperative ultrasonography, and tumor rupture. In lapa-group and open-group, 3-year disease-free survival rates were 58.3% +/- 0.08%, and 62.6% +/- 0.06%, respectively (P = 0.773). In lapa-group and open-group 3-year overall survival rates were 65.3% +/- 0.8%, and 65.7% +/- 0.6%, respectively (P = 0.610). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC is feasible and safe in a large number of patients, with reasonable operative and oncologic results.

Significance of Bioelectrical Impedance Change after Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Liver and What it Causes? / 한양의대학술지

PURPOSE: Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of hepatic failure after liver surgery, but there is no direct method to monitor it in real-time (like an ECG in heart disease) during surgery. Recently we found the possible role of bioelectrical impedance (BEI) to monitor I/R injury in liver, but the mechanism responsible for ischemia-related BEI changes has not been clearly determined. METHODS: The authors used a LCR meter to quantify BEI changes at 0.12 KHz. Livers were subjected to 70% partial ischemia for 120 minutes, and ATP content, cation changes in extracellular fluid (ECF; determined using an in vivo intracellular microdialysis technique), hepatocyte sizes, and histological changes were then examined. RESULTS: Liver tissue BEI was found to increase gradually during the first 60 minutes of ischemia and then tended to plateau. During the same period, intracellular ATP content decreased to below 20% of the baseline level, [Na+] in ECF decreased from 150.4+/-3.8 to 97.8+/-10.6 mmol/L, and [K+] in ECF increased from 7.5+/-0.3 to 34.3+/-5.5 mmol/L during the first 60 minutes of ischemia. Hepatocyte diameter increased by approximately 20% during the first 60 minutes of ischemia. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that BEI changes during hepatic ischemia are probably caused by sodium and potassium concentration changes in the ECF due to reduced intracellular ATP content.

Single center experience of laparoscopic hepatectomy: the comparison of perioperative outcomes between early and late period

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The aim of this study is to clarify the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic hepatectomy, through comparing the early and late periods of perioperative outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 138 patients who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy from January 2003 to June 2011, at Yeungnam University Hospital. We divided the total patients to early period (from January 2003 to February 2007, n=49) and late period (from March 2007 to June 2011, n=89) groups and compared the perioperative outcomes including the mean operation time, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and duration of liver function test (LFT) normalization. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 308 minutes (range: 140-510) in the early group and 193 minutes (range: 40-350) in the late period group (p<0.001). The mean intraoperative blood loss was 171 ml (range: 50-1,200) in the early and 44 ml (range: 0-400) in the late group (p=0.005). The postoperative hospital stay was 9.7 days (range: 4-31) in the early and 6.8 days (range: 2-9) in the late period (p<0.001). The ICU stay hour was 21.6 hours (range: 0-120) in the early and 2.8 hour (range: 0-24) in the late period (p<0.001). The duration of LFT normalization was 5.7 days (range: 0-39) in the early and 2.1 days (range: 0-20) in the late period (p=0.003). The perioperative outcomes in the late period were better than the early period, which showed a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic hepatectomy is feasible and can be safely performed in selected patients but requires a long experience in open liver resection and mastery of laparoscopic surgical skills.

Laparoscopic liver resection for malignant liver tumors, why not more? / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: The precise role of laparoscopic liver resection in liver malignancies remains controversial despite an increasing number of publications that have used the laparoscopic resection of benign liver tumors. This study was performed to assess the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic liver resection for malignant liver tumors. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of the profiles, pathology, surgery and outcome performed on 61 patients who had undergone laparoscopic liver resection for liver malignancies between January 2004 and March 2011. RESULTS: Among the 61 patients, 34 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 24 patients had liver metastasis. The mean tumor size was 2.8 +/- 2.0 cm (mean +/- standard deviation). Tumors located at Couinaud segment number 2 to 8. The resection included 36 anatomical resections, 25 wedge resections. The mean surgical time was 209.7 +/- 108.9 minutes. There was one operation that resulted in death. Postoperative complications occurred in 9 patients (14%). There were 2 conversions to laparotomy (3%). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.0 +/- 4.4 days. Blood transfusion was needed in 11 patients (18%). The mean surgical margin was 1.3 +/- 1.2 cm. The mean follow-up period was 18.1 +/- 11.1 months. The three-year overall survival rate was 87% for patients with HCC and 95% for patients having liver metastases from colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: Even though laparoscopic liver resection requires a learning curve, it produced acceptable outcomes even in patients who had a malignant liver tumor. This study provides evidence to support further investigation and the establishment of laparoscopic liver resection for malignant liver tumors.

Determination of Malignant and Invasive Predictors in Branch Duct Type Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas: A Suggested Scoring Formula

Prediction of malignancy or invasiveness of branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (Br-IPMN) is difficult, and proper treatment strategy has not been well established. The authors investigated the characteristics of Br-IPMN and explored its malignancy or invasiveness predicting factors to suggest a scoring formula for predicting pathologic results. From 1994 to 2008, 237 patients who were diagnosed as Br-IPMN at 11 tertiary referral centers in Korea were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' mean age was 63.1 +/- 9.2 yr. One hundred ninty-eight (83.5%) patients had nonmalignant IPMN (81 adenoma, 117 borderline atypia), and 39 (16.5%) had malignant IPMN (13 carcinoma in situ, 26 invasive carcinoma). Cyst size and mural nodule were malignancy determining factors by multivariate analysis. Elevated CEA, cyst size and mural nodule were factors determining invasiveness by multivariate analysis. Using the regression coefficient for significant predictors on multivariate analysis, we constructed a malignancy-predicting scoring formula: 22.4 (mural nodule [0 or 1]) + 0.5 (cyst size [mm]). In invasive IPMN, the formula was expressed as invasiveness-predicting score = 36.6 (mural nodule [0 or 1]) + 32.2 (elevated serum CEA [0 or 1]) + 0.6 (cyst size [mm]). Here we present a scoring formula for prediction of malignancy or invasiveness of Br-IPMN which can be used to determine a proper treatment strategy.

Better Treatment Strategies for Patients with Acute Cholecystitis and American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification 3 or Greater

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the best treatment choice for acute cholecystitis. However, it still carries high conversion and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to find out better treatment strategies for high surgical risk patients with acute cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and June 2008, we performed percutaneous cholecystostomy instead of emergency cholecystectomy in 44 patients with acute cholecystitis and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification 3 or greater. This was performed in 31 patients as a bridge procedure before elective cholecystectomy (bridge group) and as a palliative procedure in 11 patients (palliation group). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 71.6 years (range 52-86 years). The mean ASA classifications before and after percutaneous cholecystostomy were 3.3 +/- 0.5 and 2.5 +/- 0.6, respectively, in the bridge group, and 3.6 +/- 0.7 and 3.1 +/- 1.0, in the palliation group, respectively. Percutaneous cholecystostomy was technically successful in all patients. There were two deaths after percutaneous cholecystostomy in the palliation group due to underlying ischemic heart disease and multiple organ failure. Resumption of oral intake was possible 2.9 +/- 1.8 days in the bridge group and 3.9 +/- 3.5 days in the palliation group after percutaneous cholecystostomy. We attempted 17 laparoscopic cholecystectomies and experienced one failure due to bile duct injury (success rate: 94.1%). The postoperative course of all cholecystectomy patients was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous cholecystostomy is an effective bridge procedure before cholecystectomy in patients with acute cholecystitis and ASA classification 3 or greater.

Pathological Complete Remission of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Main Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis by Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy

Cures for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) are rare and difficult. We report a case of pathologically confirmed complete remission of HCC induced by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). A 45-year-old male patient had a massive HCC in the right lobe of the liver and tumor thrombus in the right and main portal veins. He achieved a partial response after two cycles of HAIC with 5-fluorouracil (750 mg/m2) and cisplatin (25 mg/m2). After the completion of six cycles he received a curative partial hepatectomy, and histopathology revealed complete necrosis without any viable tumor cell. He was in good health at a 4-month follow-up. These results suggest that this regimen is a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of advanced HCC with PVTT.

Gaining Experience before Establishing a Totally Laparoscopic Left Lateral Sectionectomy as a Standard Procedure

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present our experience before establishing laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLLS) of the liver as a standard procedure, and to show efficacy of a totally LLLS compared to an open left lateral sectionectomy (OLLS). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed and compared clinical outcomes (operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, complication rate, etc) for 29 patients who underwent LLLS and 27 patients who underwent OLLS between January, 2002 and December, 2009. To see the learning curve for LLLS, we arbitrarily divided the LLLSs we did into an early group (ELLLS) and a late group (LLLLS) based on when they were operated on relative to case number 14. RESULTS: Mean operative times for the ELLLS, LLLLS and OLLS groups were 269.7+/-102.6, 210.0+/-47.9 and 289.1+/-72.8 minutes, respectively. Mean operative time was significantly shorter (p<0.05) in the LLLLS than the OLLS group. Mean intra-operative blood loss was also less in the LLLLS group than the OLLS group (80.00+/-224.2 ml vs. 195.15+/-405.4 ml). Post-operative hospital stay was shorter in the LLLLS group than the OLLS group (9.9+/-4.0 versus 16.9+/-9.1, p=0.071). CONCLUSION: The totally LLLS is a safe, feasible treatment option that can be a standard procedure with better outcomes in selected patients after an initial learning curve.

Bioelectrical Impedance May Predict Cell Viability During Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rat Liver

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of hepatic failure after liver surgery, but no method could monitor or predict it real-time during surgery. We measured bioelectrical impedance (BEI) and cell viability to assess the usefulness of BEI during I/R in rat liver. A 70% partial liver ischemia model was used. BEI was measured at various frequencies. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, and palmitic acid oxidation rate were measured, and histological changes were observed in order to quantify liver cell viability. BEI changed significantly during ischemia at low frequency. In the ischemia group, BEI increased gradually during 60 min of ischemia and had a tendency to plateau thereafter. The ATP content decreased below 20% of the baseline level. In the I/R group, BEI recovered to near baseline level. After 24 hr of reperfusion, the ATP contents decreased to below 50% in 30, 60 and 120 min of ischemia and the palmitic acid metabolic rates decreased to 91%, 78%, and 74%, respectively, compared with normal liver. BEI may be a good tool for monitoring I/R during liver surgery. The liver is relatively tolerant to ischemia, however after reperfusion, liver cells may be damaged depending upon the duration of ischemia.

Impaired Cation Transport May Lead to Bioelectrical Impedance Changes during Hepatic Ischemia

PURPOSE: Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of hepatic failure after liver surgery, but there is no direct method to monitor it in real-time (like an electrocardiogram in heart disease) during surgery. Recently we found the possible role of bioelectrical impedance (BEI) to monitor I/R injury in liver. But the mechanism responsible for ischemia-related BEI changes has not been clearly determined. METHODS: The authors used an LCR meter to quantify BEI changes at 0.12 KHz. Livers were subjected to 70% partial ischemia for 120 minutes, and ATP contents, cation changes in extracellular fluid (ECF; determined using an in vivo intracellular microdialysis technique), hepatocyte sizes, and histological changes were then examined. RESULTS: Liver tissue BEI was found to increase gradually during the first 60 minutes of ischemia and then tended to plateau. During the same period, intracellular ATP contents decreased to below 20% of the baseline level, [Na+] in ECF decreased from 150.4+/-3.8 to 97.8+/-10.6 mmol/L, and [K+] in ECF increased from 7.5+/-0.3 to 34.3+/-5.5 mmol/L during the first 60 minutes of ischemia. Hepatocyte diameter increased by ~20% during the first 60 minutes of ischemia. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that BEI changes during hepatic ischemia are probably caused by sodium and potassium concentration changes in the ECF due to reduced intracellular ATP contents.

Results of Hepatectomy as First Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma within the Milan Criteria with Preserved Liver Function

PURPOSE: Hepatic resection and liver transplantation are surgical therapeutic options for small-sized HCC. But, the therapeutic option for patients meeting the Milan criteria with preserved liver function is facing a dilemma. In this study, we examined the outcomes of surgical resection for HCC patients meeting the Milan criteria with preserved liver function and rationale of hepatic resection as the first treatment for HCC meeting the Milan Criteria. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2006, 248 patients with HCC underwent hepatectomy in 158 primary HCC patients meeting Milan criteria (Group M) and in 90 patients beyond Milan criteria (Group N). Median age was 54.5 years in group M and 52.4 years in group N. RESULTS: The tumor size, mean survival months, E-S grade and vascular invasion rate were significantly different between the two groups. 67 patients in group M and 22 patients in group N had intrahepatic recurrence after primary hepatectomy. The cumulative 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates were 91.9%, 74.5%, and 60.5% in intrahepatic recurrence group M after primary hepatectomy and 100%, 96.0%, and 90.5% in repeated hepatic resection for recurrent treatment in group M, respectively. CONCLUSION: Because of the high survival rate and long-term survival after adequate treatment of recurrence, primary hepatectomy is considered a reasonable option as first-line treatment for HCC meeting Milan criteria with preserved liver function.

The Prognostic Significance of Anatomical Resection for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: There has been controversy concerning which is the best treatment method for small hepatocellular carcinoma between anatomical resection (AR) and non-anatomical resection (NAR). In this retrospective study, we investigated the outcomes of surgical resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma and the clinical results depending on the type of hepatectomy. METHODS: We performed an analysis of the clinicopathologic factors of forty eight patients who underwent hepatectomy for a small (<2 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma between 1990 and 2005. The AR was defined as the resection based on the segment or lobe, as proposed by Couinaud. NAR was defined as the resection of a lesion without regard to the segmental or lobar anatomy, as proposed by Couinaud. The patients were divided into 2 groups base on the hepatectomy procedure: AR (n=24) and NAR (n=24). RESULTS: There were no significant difference between the two groups for the general characteristics of the patients and the clinicopathologic findings, except for ICG R15. The mean ICG R15 in the AR and NAR groups was 11.8+/-6.9 and 22.4+/-15.6, respectively, The NAR group had significantly higher ICG R15 values. The cumulative 1, 3 and 5 year overall survival rates in the AR and NAR groups were 95.8%, 68.2% and 61.3%, and 76.6%, 59.0% and 52.5%, respectively. The cumulative overall survival rate and the mean 5 year disease free survival rate in the AR group (69.8%) were higher than those of the NAR group (45.8%). However, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Depending on the surgical results of this study, there was no statistically significant difference in the outcomes between the AR and NAR groups.

The Prognostic Significance of Anatomical Resection for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: There has been controversy concerning which is the best treatment method for small hepatocellular carcinoma between anatomical resection (AR) and non-anatomical resection (NAR). In this retrospective study, we investigated the outcomes of surgical resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma and the clinical results depending on the type of hepatectomy. METHODS: We performed an analysis of the clinicopathologic factors of forty eight patients who underwent hepatectomy for a small (<2 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma between 1990 and 2005. The AR was defined as the resection based on the segment or lobe, as proposed by Couinaud. NAR was defined as the resection of a lesion without regard to the segmental or lobar anatomy, as proposed by Couinaud. The patients were divided into 2 groups base on the hepatectomy procedure: AR (n=24) and NAR (n=24). RESULTS: There were no significant difference between the two groups for the general characteristics of the patients and the clinicopathologic findings, except for ICG R15. The mean ICG R15 in the AR and NAR groups was 11.8+/-6.9 and 22.4+/-15.6, respectively, The NAR group had significantly higher ICG R15 values. The cumulative 1, 3 and 5 year overall survival rates in the AR and NAR groups were 95.8%, 68.2% and 61.3%, and 76.6%, 59.0% and 52.5%, respectively. The cumulative overall survival rate and the mean 5 year disease free survival rate in the AR group (69.8%) were higher than those of the NAR group (45.8%). However, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Depending on the surgical results of this study, there was no statistically significant difference in the outcomes between the AR and NAR groups.