No difference in laparoscopic, open partial hepatectomy

(HealthDay)—Patients who undergo laparoscopic partial hepatic resection (LH) have similar short-term outcomes compared to those who undergo open partial hepatic resection (OH), according to a study published online July 30 in JAMA Surgery.

Cara Franken, M.D., from the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, and colleagues compared short-term (30-day) outcomes between laparoscopic (52 patients) and open (52 patients) partial hepatectomies. Patients undergoing partial hepatic resection (LH and OH) were matched based on extent of resection, then by pathological diagnosis, and lastly age and sex to the extent possible.

The researchers observed no difference in positive margin status. While the LH group had significantly less estimated blood loss than OH (P = 0.049), there was no difference in the rate of perioperative blood transfusion (P = 0.20). The groups were similar with respect to operative time (P = 0.16), hospital length of stay (P = 0.13), and readmission rate (P = 0.70). There were also no significant differences observed in the rates of major complications (P > 0.99), overall 30-day morbidity (P = 0.70), and 30-day mortality (P > 0.99).

"Future studies are needed to define which patients derive benefit from LH and to determine oncologic equivalence to OH," the authors write.