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BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery has emerged as a promising approach for managing complex hepatic malignancies. This report presents a case of a single-port robotic liver resection for a patient with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastases, focusing on the surgical technique and outcomes. METHOD: An 18-year-old female with a history of left hepatectomy for fibrolamellar HCC underwent robotic liver resection using the Da Vinci SP Surgical System. The procedure entailed excising a 30 mm tumor in liver segment 4 (Sg4) along with peritoneal metastases in the superior pole of the spleen and cardiophrenic lymph node metastasis. Surgical techniques comprised adhesiolysis, resection of the peritoneal nodule, Sg4 partial liver resection, and excision of the cardiophrenic lymph node. RESULTS: The operative time was 310 min, with a blood loss of 37 mL. The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged home after 8 days. Partial liver resection of Sg4 revealed a moderately differentiated HCC with negative resection margins. Additionally, excision of peritoneal metastases in the superior pole of the spleen and cardiophrenic lymph nodes, consistent with metastasis, was performed. Notably, the Da Vinci SP system's relocation function proved useful in this case, particularly in slender patients with multiple distant metastases. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of technological advancements in robotic surgery. The Da Vinci SP system, with its advantageous features, shows promise in challenging clinical scenarios. Its ability to facilitate precise navigation and manipulation within the patient's restricted abdominal cavity contributed to the observed successful outcome.
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Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality after liver resection. The factors related to PHLF are represented not only by the volume and function of the future liver remnant but also by the severity of portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess whether the preservation of the round ligament (RL) may mitigate portal hypertension, thus decreasing the risk of PHLF and ascites in cirrhotic patients while undergoing minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS). All the cirrhotic patients who underwent MILS for HCC from 2016 to 2021 in two international tertiary referral centers were retrospectively analyzed, comparing cases with the RL preserved vs. those with the RL divided. Only patients with cirrhosis ≥ Child A6, portal hypertension, and ICG-R15 > 10% were included. Main postoperative outcomes were compared, and the risk factors for postoperative ascites (severe PHLF, grade B/C) were investigated through a logistic regression. After the application of the selection criteria, a total of 130 MILS patients were identified, with 86 patients with the RL preserved and 44 with the RL divided. The RL-preserved group showed lower incidences of severe PHLF (7.0% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.023) and ascites (5.8% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.026) in comparison with the RL-divided group. After uni/multivariate analysis, the risk factors related to postoperative ascites were RL division and platelets < 92 × 103/µL, calculated with ROC analysis. The preservation of the round ligament during MILS may mitigate portal hypertension, preventing PHLF and ascites in cirrhotic patients with borderline liver function.
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Neoplasias Hepáticas , Oncología Quirúrgica , Humanos , Hígado , Hepatectomía , Abdomen , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Limited anatomic resections (LARs), such as segmentectomies, performed using a fully laparoscopic approach, have gained popularity for liver malignancies. However, the oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic LARs (Lap-LARs) needs further investigation. This cohort study evaluated the oncologic outcomes of Lap-LAR for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). METHODS: At a Japanese referral center, 112 patients underwent Lap-LAR using the Glissonean approach and indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), time to interventional failure (TIF), and time to surgical failure (TSF) were assessed. RESULTS: Among the 112 patients (median age, 74 years [range, 66-80 years]; 80 men [71.4 %]), Lap-LAR showed promising results. The median operative time was 348 min (range, 280-460 min), and the median blood loss was 190 mL (range, 95.5-452.0 mL). The median error between the estimated and actual liver volumes was 2 % (1.2-4.8 %). Complications greater than Clavien-Dindo 3a were observed in 11.6 % of the patients. The 5-year RFS, OS, and TIF rates for HCC were 45.1 % ± 7.9 %, 73.1 % ± 6.7 %, and 74.2 % ± 6 .6 %, respectively. The 5-year RFS, OS, and TSF rates for CRLM were 36.8 % ± 8.7 %, 60.1 % ± 13.3 %, and 63.6 % ± 10.4 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lap-LAR showed favorable oncologic outcomes for HCC and CRLM. Its precise technique makes it a promising therapeutic option for liver malignancies. Further comparisons with conventional approaches are warranted.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Laparoscopía , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Masculino , Humanos , Anciano , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/cirugía , Neoplasias Hepáticas/secundario , Estudios de Cohortes , Hepatectomía/métodos , Laparoscopía/métodos , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) is the standard treatment for acute cholecystitis (AC). However, predicting the difficulty of this procedure remains challenging. The present study aimed to develop an improved prediction model for surgical difficulty during ELC, surpassing the current Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) grading system. METHODS: We analyzed data from 201 consecutive patients who underwent ELC for AC between 2019 and 2021. Surgical difficulty was defined as the failure to achieve the critical view of safety (non-CVS). We developed a scoring system by conducting multivariate analysis on demographics, symptoms, laboratory data, and radiographic findings. The predictive accuracy of our scoring system was compared to that of the TG18 grading system (Grade I vs. Grade II/III). RESULTS: Through multivariate logistic regression analysis, a novel scoring system was formulated. This system incorporated preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) values (≥5: 1 pt, ≥10: 2 pts, ≥15: 3 pts) and TG18 grading score (duration >72 h: 1 pt, image criteria for Grade II AC: 1 pt). Our model, a cutoff score of ≥3, exhibited a significantly elevated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.721 compared to the TG18 grading system alone (AUC 0.609) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Combining preoperative CRP values with TG18 grading criteria can enhance the accuracy of predicting intraoperative difficulty in ELC for AC.
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Colecistectomía Laparoscópica , Colecistitis Aguda , Humanos , Colecistectomía Laparoscópica/efectos adversos , Proteína C-Reactiva/análisis , Tokio , Colecistitis Aguda/diagnóstico por imagen , Colecistitis Aguda/cirugía , Análisis Multivariante , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the clinical liver anatomy has evolved with advanced imaging modalities and laparoscopic surgery. Therefore, precise anatomical resection knowledge has become the standard treatment for primary and secondary liver cancer. Segmentectomy, a parenchymal-preserving approach, is regarded as an option for anatomical resections in patients with impaired liver. Indocyanine green (ICG) staining is a promising method for understanding the anatomical borders of the liver segments. There are two methods of ICG staining (positive and negative), and the superiority of either approach has not been determined to date. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective randomised controlled superiority clinical trial performed in a single centre tertiary hospital in Japan. A comparison between the accuracy of positive and negative ICG staining in guiding laparoscopic anatomical liver resection is planned in this study. Possible candidates are patients with liver malignant tumours in whom laparoscopic monosegmentectomy or subsegmentectomy is planned. Fifty patients will be prospectively allocated into the following two groups: group A, ICG-negative staining group, and group B, ICG-positive staining group. The optimal dose of ICG for positive staining will be determined during the preparation phase. To assess the ability of the ICG fluorescence guidance in anatomical resection, the primary endpoint is the success rate of ICG staining, which consists of a SOS based on three components: superficial demarcation in the liver surface, visualisation of the parenchymal borders and consistency with the preoperative three-dimensional simulation. The secondary endpoints are the evaluation of short-term surgical outcomes and recurrence-free survival. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by Ageo Central General Hospital Clinical Research Ethical Committee (No: 1044) and it carried out following the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). Informed consent will be taken from the patients before participating. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, scientific meetings and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000049815.
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Laparoscopía , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Humanos , Coloración Negativa , Verde de Indocianina , Estudios Prospectivos , Coloración y Etiquetado , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugía , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como AsuntoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) has been reported to be useful in reducing the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL) in colectomy. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the required time for ICG fluorescence emission and AL in left-sided colon and rectal cancer surgery using the double-stapling technique (DST) anastomosis. METHODS: This retrospective study included 217 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent left-sided colon and rectal surgery using ICG-FI-based perfusion assessment at our department between November 2018 and July 2022. We recorded the time required to achieve maximum fluorescence emission after ICG systemic injection and assessed its correlation with the occurrence of AL. RESULTS: Among 217 patients, AL occurred in 21 patients (9.7%). The median time from ICG administration to maximum fluorescence emission was 32 s (range 25-58 s) in the AL group and 28 s (range 10-45 s) in the non-AL group (p < 0.001). The cut-off value for the presence of AL obtained from the ROC curve was 31 s. In 58 patients with a required time for ICG fluorescence of 31 s or longer, the following risk factors for AL were identified: low preoperative albumin [3.4 mg/dl (range 2.6-4.4) vs. 3.9 mg/dl (range 2.6-4.9), p = 0.016], absence of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (53.8% vs. 91.1%, p = 0.005), obstructive tumor (61.5% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.004), and larger tumor diameter [65 mm (range 40-90) vs. 35 mm (range 4.0-100), p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: The time required for ICG fluorescence emission was associated with AL.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Laparoscopía , Neoplasias del Recto , Humanos , Verde de Indocianina , Neoplasias Colorrectales/cirugía , Estudios Retrospectivos , Colorantes , Laparoscopía/métodos , Neoplasias del Recto/complicaciones , Anastomosis Quirúrgica/efectos adversos , Anastomosis Quirúrgica/métodos , Fuga Anastomótica/etiología , Fuga Anastomótica/prevención & control , Fuga Anastomótica/epidemiología , Colectomía/métodos , PerfusiónRESUMEN
Minimally invasive liver resection (MILR) is being widely utilized owing to recent advancements in laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery. There are two main types of liver resection: anatomical (minimally invasive anatomical liver resection (MIALR)) and nonanatomical. MIALR is defined as a minimally invasive liver resection along the respective portal territory. Optimization of the safety and precision of MIALR is the next challenge for hepatobiliary surgeons, and intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) staining is considered to be of considerable importance in this field. In this article, we present the latest findings on MIALR and laparoscopic anatomical liver resection using ICG at our hospital.
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BACKGROUND: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) poses multiple challenges. The Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) eliminated the time limit (< 72 h) and expanded the surgical indication to severe AC. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of ELC for AC following the TG18 in a single high-volume center. METHODS: From 2019 to 2021, we managed all AC patients with a TG18 flowchart and prospectively enrolled those who underwent ELC within 7 days of symptom onset. The primary outcome was overall morbidity, with a comparison between mild (Grade I) and moderate/severe (Grade II/III) AC. RESULTS: During the study period, 201 patients underwent ELC was for Grade I (56.2%), II (40.3%), and III (3.5%) ACs. Mean age was 69 ± 15.2 years and time to surgery from symptom onset was 0 (12.9%), 1-3 (66.7%), and 4-7 days (20.4%). Mean operative time and blood loss were 118.9 ± 42.7 min and 57.8 ± 99.4 mL, respectively. The critical view of safety (CVS) was achieved in 76.1% of patients, and bailout procedures were performed in 21.4%. There were no open conversions or bile duct injuries. Major morbidities (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ IIIa) were observed in 5.5% of cases and mortality in 0.5%. Comparing Grades II/III to Grade I, operative time was longer (112.3 vs. 127.3 min, p = 0.014), blood loss was higher (40.3 vs. 80.1 mL, p = 0.005), the CVS rate was lower (83.2 vs. 67.0%, p = 0.012), and the major morbidity rate was higher (1.8 vs. 10.2%, p = 0.012). In the subgroup analysis of Grade II/III, there were no significant differences in major morbidities (p = 0.288) between the two groups (0-3 vs. 4-7 days). CONCLUSION: ELC for AC following TG18 is feasible with low morbidity rates. However, ELC for Grade II/III ACs remains challenging, and surgeons must carefully assess intraoperative difficulties and surgical risks before proceeding.
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Colecistectomía Laparoscópica , Colecistitis Aguda , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Colecistectomía Laparoscópica/efectos adversos , Colecistectomía Laparoscópica/métodos , Tokio , Estudios Prospectivos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Colecistitis Aguda/cirugía , Colecistitis Aguda/diagnóstico , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The indications of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) have expanded to high-risk patients, such as elderly people. However, to date, little evidence has been established of the safety and feasibility of LLR in elderly patients. The short-term outcomes of LLR in elderly patients as compared to non-elderly patients were investigated. METHODS: Data of a total of 297 patients who underwent LLR were reviewed. Among these 297 patients, 181 patients were < 75 years age (non-elderly) and 116 patients were ≥ 75 years age (elderly), and the surgical outcomes were compared between the groups. In addition, we evaluated the risk factors for postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ IIIa) utilizing the preoperative, operative, and postoperative variables RESULTS: The preoperative liver/renal function, frequency of anti-thrombotic drug use, number of comorbidities, and American Society of Anesthesiologists-physical status classification were more unfavorable in elderly patients than in non-elderly patients. No significant inter-group differences were observed in the operation time, blood loss, conversion rate, postoperative morbidity, or 30-day mortality. The 3-year overall survival rate was comparable between the two groups. Multivariate analysis identified anti-thrombotic drug use, operation time > 7 h, and peak serum total bilirubin > 2 mg/dl within postoperative day 3 as independent risk factors for Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIa postoperative morbidity (P = 0.016, P < 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LLR in elderly patients may provide comparable short-term outcomes to those in non-elderly patients.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Laparoscopía , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Humanos , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/epidemiología , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/cirugía , Hepatectomía/efectos adversos , Laparoscopía/efectos adversos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Tiempo de Internación , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/cirugíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The impact of obesity on surgical outcomes in elderly patients candidate for liver surgery is still debated. AIM: To evaluate the impact of high body mass index (BMI) on perioperative and oncological outcome in elderly patients (> 70 years old) treated with laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Retrospective multicenter study including 224 elderly patients (> 70 years old) operated by laparoscopy for HCC (196 with a BMI < 30 and 28 with BMI ≥ 30), observed from January 2009 to January 2019. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, patients in two groups presented comparable results, in terms of operative time (median range: 200 min vs 205 min, P = 0.7 respectively in non-obese and obese patients), complications rate (22% vs 26%, P = 1.0), length of hospital stay (median range: 4.5 d vs 6.0 d, P = 0.1). There are no significant differences in terms of short- and long-term postoperative results. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that BMI did not impact perioperative and oncologic outcomes in elderly patients treated by laparoscopic resection for HCC.
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BACKGROUND: Liver resection (LR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are considered curative options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after LR and RFA in octogenarian patients with HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included 102 elderly patients (> 80 years old) treated between January 2009 and January 2019, who underwent LR or RFA for HCC (65 and 37 with, respectively). RESULTS: After Propensity Score Matching, the postoperative course of LR was burdened by a higher rate of complications than RFA group (64% vs 14%, respectively, p: 0.001). The LR group had also significantly longer operative time (207 ± 85 min vs 33 ± 49 min, p < 0.001) and postoperative hospital stays than the RFA group (7 d vs 2 d, p = 0.019). Overall survival at 1-, 2-, and 3-year were 86%, 86%, and 70% for the LR group and 82%, 64%, and 52% for the RFA group (p = 0.380). Disease-free survival at 1-, 2-, and 3-year were 89%, 74%, and 56% for the LR group, and 51%, 40%, and 40% for the RFA group (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Despite a higher rate of Dindo-Clavien I-II post-operative complications, a longer operative time and length of hospital stay, LR in octogenarian patients can provide comparable 90d mortality than RFA and better long-term outcomes.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Ablación por Catéter , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Ablación por Radiofrecuencia , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Humanos , Anciano , Puntaje de Propensión , Estudios Retrospectivos , Octogenarios , Resultado del Tratamiento , Hepatectomía/efectos adversosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Liver resection is the mainstay for a curative treatment for patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), also in elderly population. Despite this, the evaluation of patient condition, liver function and extent of disease remains a demanding process with the aim to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. AIM: To identify new perioperative risk factors that could be associated with higher 90- and 180-d mortality in elderly patients eligible for liver resection for HCC considering traditional perioperative risk scores and to develop a risk score. METHODS: A multicentric, retrospective study was performed by reviewing the medical records of patients aged 70 years or older who electively underwent liver resection for HCC; several independent variables correlated with death from all causes at 90 and 180 d were studied. The coefficients of Cox regression proportional-hazards model for six-month mortality were rounded to the nearest integer to assign risk factors' weights and derive the scoring algorithm. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis found variables (American Society of Anesthesiology score, high rate of comorbidities, Mayo end stage liver disease score and size of biggest lesion) that had independent correlations with increased 90- and 180-d mortality. A clinical risk score was developed with survival profiles. CONCLUSION: This score can aid in stratifying this population in order to assess who can benefit from surgical treatment in terms of postoperative mortality.
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BACKGROUND: Celiac trunk stenosis or occlusion is a common condition observed in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The risk of upper abdominal organ ischemia or failure increases if the blood circulation in the celiac arterial system is not maintained after the surgery. CASE SUMMARY: We present two cases of elderly patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma and celiac trunk occlusion who underwent PD. We performed blood circulation modification preoperatively with transcatheter coil embolization of the arterial arcades of the pancreatic head via the superior mesenteric artery to develop collateral communication between the superior mesenteric artery and the common hepatic or splenic arteries to ensure arterial blood flow to the upper abdominal organs. The postoperative course was marked by delayed gastric emptying, but no major surgical complications, such as biliary or pancreatic fistula, or clinical, biochemical, or radiological evidence of ischemic disease, was observed. CONCLUSION: Preoperative blood circulation modification may be a valid alternative procedure for elderly patients with celiac trunk occlusion who are ineligible for interventional or surgical revascularization.
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INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has made remarkable progress over the past two decades, providing superior perioperative outcomes to open liver resection (OLR). The pros and cons of LLR for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) have been discussed along with the debate regarding optimal resection margins for CRLMs. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature review has been carried out (Pubmed and Embase) focusing on the resection margin status (R status) after LLR for CRLMs. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: LLR for CRLMs results in R1 in 7.6 to 21.3% of cases, the risk being the size and number of tumors and the amount of intraoperative blood loss. R1 is associated with shorter recurrence-free survival but has no impact on overall survival. There is insufficient evidence regarding the prognostic value of laparoscopic two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) or repeat hepatectomy (RH) for CRLMs. CONCLUSIONS: Although R0 remains the golden standard for CRLMs, the acceptability of R1 should be determined based on an overall assessment of the biological malignancy, remnant liver volume, and the proximity to major vasculature. The strategy of performing multiple LLRs for CRLMs while allowing for R1 at the initial operation is a topic for future research.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Laparoscopía , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Humanos , Hepatectomía/métodos , Márgenes de Escisión , Neoplasias Colorrectales/cirugía , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugía , Laparoscopía/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has proven to be a high potential navigation tool during liver surgery; however, its optimal usage is still far from being standardized. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE/PubMed for English articles that contained the information of dose and timing of ICG administration until February 2021. Successful rates of tumor detection and liver segmentation, as well as tumor/patient background and imaging settings were also reviewed. The quality assessment of the articles was performed in accordance with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). RESULTS: Out of initial 311 articles, a total of 72 manuscripts were obtained. The quality assessment of the included studies revealed usually low; only 9 articles got qualified as high quality. Forty articles (55%) focused on open resections, whereas 32 articles (45%) on laparoscopic and robotic liver resections. Thirty-four articles (47%) described tumor detection ability, and 25 articles (35%) did liver segmentation ability, and the others (18%) did both abilities. Negative staining was reported (42%) more than positive staining (32%). For tumor detection, majority used the dose of 0.5âmg/kg within 14âdays before the operation day, and an additional administration (0.02-0.5âmg/kg) in case of longer preoperative interval. Tumor detection rate was reported to be 87.4% (range, 43%-100%) with false positive rate reported to be 10.5% (range, 0%-31.3%). For negative staining method, the majority used 2.5âmg/body, ranging from 0.025 to 25âmg/body. For positive staining method, the majority used 0.25âmg/body, ranging from 0.025 to 12.5âmg/body. Successful segmentation rate was 88.0% (range, 53%-100%). CONCLUSION: The time point and dose of ICG administration strongly needs to be tailored case by case in daily practice, due to various tumor/patient backgrounds and imaging settings.
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Laparoscopía , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Fluorescencia , Hepatectomía/métodos , Humanos , Verde de Indocianina , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugía , Imagen Óptica/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is a first-line curative option for hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role is still unclear in elderly patients. The aim of our study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open liver resection in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: The study included 665 consecutive hepatocellular carcinoma liver resection cases in patients with ≥70 years of age treated in eight European hospital centres. Patients were divided into laparoscopic and open liver resection groups. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were compared between these groups. RESULTS: After a 1:1 propensity score matching, 219 patients were included in each group. Clavien-Dindo grades III/IV (6 vs. 20%, p = 0.04) were lower in the laparoscopic than in the open matched group. Hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic than in the open matched group (5 vs. 7 days, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between laparoscopic and open groups regarding overall survival and disease-free survival at 1-, 3- and 5- year periods. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with good short-term outcomes in patients with ≥70 years of age compared to open liver resection. Laparoscopic liver resection is safe and feasible in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.