Surgical Technique and Clinical Analysis of Twelve Cases of Isolated Laparoscopic Resection of the Hepatic Caudate Lobe

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical procedures of laparoscopic caudate lobectomy and analyze its clinical efficiency for treating cancer. METHODS: Twelve consecutive patients of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic hemangioma, and focal nodular hyperplasia who received laparoscopic caudate lobectomy in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2013 to January 2017 were included in this study. The clinical data, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: All 12 patients received totally laparoscopic technique. The operative time was 140.8 ± 95.34 minutes. The average estimated blood loss was 97.92 ± 90.54 ml, and no blood transfusions were required. The mean duration of hospital stay was 9.17 ± 2.88 days. There was no perioperative complication or patient mortality in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic caudate lobectomy is safe and feasible in the selected patients.