OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential causes and preventive measures for blood loss in laparoscopic liver resection.

METHODSThe candidates for laparoscopic liver resections were 21 patients with liver lesions, including 13 patients with primary liver cancer, 2 patients with liver abscess, 3 patients with liver hemangioma, 1 patient with hepatic cellular adenoma, 1 patient with hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia, and 1 patient with infected liver cyst. They were classified as Child A in 16 and B in 5 patients.

RESULTSTwenty-one patients with liver lesions underwent 23 laparoscopic resections uneventfully. Operating procedures included partial liver resection in 12 patients, segment IV in 1 case and anatomical left liver resections in 8 patients. Operation duration was 80 - 320 (mean 193.8 +/- 78.3) minutes. The blood loss in operation was 100 - 1000 (mean 333.1 +/- 291.4) ml. The postoperative hospital stay averaged 6.3 +/- 1.5 days, which was markedly shortened in comparison to conventional laparotomy liver resections. In addition, there was no complication in this series.

CONCLUSIONSBased on these preliminary results, occlusion of hepatic vessels with clamp is very important for partial liver resection. The key technique is to control the blood loss in operation. We conclude that laparoscopic liver resection is a prospective minimally invasive technique. These experiences suggest that laparoscopic procedures could be employed both in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors in selected cases.