OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, safety and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following previous resection.

METHODSBetween January 2003 and January 2011, 14 patients with recurrent HCC were carefully selected to undergo repeat laparoscopic hepatectomy, among which 9 patients were male, 5 patients were female, and the average age was 54 years. Prior to re-resection, all patients had undergone at least one open hepatectomy for HCC. The perioperative and long-term outcomes of these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSRepeat laparoscopic hepatectomy for these 14 patients were successfully performed without major perioperative complications. The mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were (124 ± 82) minutes, (112 ± 43) ml and (7 ± 4) days, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 23 months (range 14 to 42 months). At the time of follow-up, 11 patients were still alive, among which 3 patients developed recurrent disease and 8 patients remained disease free. One patient died of liver dysfunction at 21 months, and another 2 patients died of tumor recurrence at 17, 31 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic surgery for recurrent HCC remains a viable option for repeat hepatectomy in selected patients who have undergone open hepatectomy.