Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2010; 16(4): 526-530
Published online Jan 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i4.526
A case of laparoscopic hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma
Tan To Cheung, Kelvin Kwok-chai Ng, Ronnie Tung-ping Poon, See Ching Chan, Chung Mau Lo, Sheung Tat Fan
Tan To Cheung, Kelvin Kwok-chai Ng, Ronnie Tung-ping Poon, See Ching Chan, Chung Mau Lo, Sheung Tat Fan, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Poon RT designed the work; Cheung TT performed the work, analyzed the data and wrote the paper; Ng KK and Chan SC revised the paper; Lo CM and Fan ST supervised the study.
Correspondence to: Tan To Cheung, Associate Consultant, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. tantocheung@hotmail.com
Telephone: +852-28553025  Fax: +852-28165284
Received: September 30, 2009
Revised: November 12, 2009
Accepted: November 19, 2009
Published online: January 28, 2010
Abstract

Conventional hepatectomy is an effective way to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it is invasive and stressful. The use of laparoscopy in hepatectomy, while technically demanding, reduces surgical invasiveness and stressfulness but still achieves complete resection with adequate margins. Compared with conventional hepatectomy, laparoscopic hepatectomy provides a better chance and situation for further surgery in the case of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Even aged patients can successfully endure repeated hepatectomy using laparoscopy, as shown in the present report. This report presents a case of repeated laparoscopic hepatectomy treating hepatocellular carcinoma and its recurrence in an aged patient having cirrhosis, a disease causing extra difficulty for performing laparoscopic hepatectomy. The report also describes techniques of the operation and displays characteristic results of laparoscopic hepatectomy such as smaller wounds, less blood loss, less pain, less scars and adhesion, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and faster recovery.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Laparoscopic resection; Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma; Elderly; Hepatectomy