Laparoscopic liver resection of benign liver tumors - Results of a multicenter European experience

in Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques (2003), 17(1), 23-30

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic liver resection for benign liver tumors in a multicenter setting. Background: Despite restrictive ... [more ▼]

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic liver resection for benign liver tumors in a multicenter setting. Background: Despite restrictive, tailored indications for resection in benign liver tumors, an increasing number of articles have been published concerning laparoscopic liver resection of these tumors. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 18 surgical centres in Europe regarding their experience with laparoscopic resection of benign liver tumors. Detailed standardized questionnaires were used that focused on patient's characteristics, clinical data, type and characteristics of the tumor, technical details of the operation, and early and late clinical outcome. Results: From March 1992 to September 2000, 87 patients suffering from benign liver tumor were included in this study: 48 patients with focal nodular hyperplasia (55%), 17 patients with liver cell adenoma (21%), 13 patients with hemangioma (15%), 3 patients with hamartoma (3%), 3 patients with hydatid liver cysts (3%), 2 patients with adult polycystic liver disease (APLD) (2%), and 1 patient with liver cystadenoma (1%). The mean size of the tumor was 6 cm, and 95% of the tumors were located in the left liver lobe or in the anterior segments of the right liver. Liver procedures included 38 wedge resections, 25 segmentectomies, 21 bisegmentectomies (including 20 left lateral segmentectomies), and 3 major hepatectomies. There were 9 conversions to an open approach (10%) due to bleeding in 45% of the patients. Five patients (6%) received autologous blood transfusion. There was no postoperative mortality, and the postoperative complication rate was low (5%). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (range, 2-13 days). At a mean follow-up of 13 months (median, 10 months; range, 2-58 months), all patients are alive without disease recurrence, except for the 2 patients with APLD. Conclusions: Laparoscopic resection of benign liver tumors is feasible and safe for selected patients with small tumors located in the left lateral segments or in the anterior segments of the right liver. Despite the use of a laparoscopic approach, selective indications for resection of benign liver tumors should remain unchanged. When performed by expert liver and laparoscopic surgeons in selected patients and tumors, laparoscopic resection of benign liver tumor is a promising technique. [less ▲]

Pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: characteristics and effect of intraperitoneal bupivacaine.

in Anesthesia and Analgesia (1995), 81(2), 379-84

Although pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less intense than after open cholecystectomy, some patients still experience considerable discomfort. Furthermore, the characteristics of ... [more ▼]

Although pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less intense than after open cholecystectomy, some patients still experience considerable discomfort. Furthermore, the characteristics of postlaparoscopy pain differ considerably from those seen after laparotomy. Therefore, we investigated the time course of different pain components after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the effects of intraperitoneal bupivacaine on these different components. Forty ASA physical status grade I-II patients were randomly assigned to receive either 80 mL of bupivacaine 0.125% with epinephrine 1/200,000 (n = 20) or the same volume of saline (n = 20) instilled under the right hemidiaphragm at the end of surgery. Intensity of total pain, visceral pain, parietal pain, and shoulder pain was assessed 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, and 48 h after surgery. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. Patient data were similar in the two groups. In the saline group, visceral pain was significantly more intense than parietal pain at each time point; visceral and parietal pain were greater than shoulder pain during the first 8 h postoperatively. Intraperitoneal bupivacaine did not significantly affect any of the different components of postoperative pain. Analgesic consumption was similar in the two groups. This study demonstrates that visceral pain accounts for most of the pain experienced after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraperitoneal bupivacaine is not effective for treating any type of pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. [less ▲]