Clinical Study Of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy For Hepatolithiasis

Background: Hepatolithiasis is a prevalent disease in Southeast Asia. Heaptectomy was considered the best treatment for majority of hepatolithiasis. Laparoscopic hepatectomy is a new procedure for liver lesions with minimal invasive approach. There is few report concerning feasibility and safety of laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis.Objective: To evaluate feasibility and safety of laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis by comparison with open hepatectomy for the same disease.Methods: From November 2002 to March 2006, total of 30 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis in Sir Run Run Shaw Hosptial. 29 were included in this study (excluded a converted case), as the laparoscopic hepatectomy group (LH). At the same period, 22 patients of hepatiolithiasis met inclusion criteria for laparoscopic hepatectomy are selected to open hepatectomy as the open group (OH). All the operations were performed by authors. There was no significant difference in preoperative data between two groups. Data were statistically compared.Results: Compared with open hepatectomy, laparoscopic hepatectomy was associated with shorter length of postoperative hospital stay and fasting, lower postoperative serum aminotransferase level, and higher postoperative serum albumin level, operating time, and intraoperative blood loss were similar between two groups. 6 complications were occurred, 2 (6.8%) in LH and 4 (18.2%) in OH. There was no perioperative mortality in either group.Conclusion: Laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis was feasible and safe in the selected patients.