Our experience of repeat laparoscopic liver resection in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Repeat liver resection is an effective treatment approach for patients with recurrent hepatocellular cell carcinoma (HCC). However, the surgical feasibility and oncological significance of repeat laparoscopic liver resection (r-LLR) remain unproven. This study evaluates and compares the clinical outcomes of non-anatomic r-LLR applied towards recurrent HCC, with those of primary LLR (p-LLR) for primary HCC. Methods This retrospective study reports 104 patients with HCC, treated with LLR between 2014 and 2018. Twenty eight of these patients underwent r-LLR for recurrent HCC. The clinical and surgical variables were reviewed for all cases. Results The analysis was limited to non-anatomic resection across both groups (r-LLR: 89% (25/28) vs. p-LLR: 80% (61/76)). There were no statistically significant differences about patient background between the two groups, with the exception of Child–Pugh classification. r-LLR surgical techniques included single-site laparoscopic adhesiolysis (32%, 8/25), Pringle maneuver (8%, 2/25), and crush–clamp method using BiClamp for hepatic parenchymal transection (72%, 18/25). No severe postoperative complications were observed in the r-LLR group. Postoperative hospital stays and procedure-related postoperative survival were similar for both groups. Conclusions Non-anatomical r-LLR renders comparable surgical and oncological outcomes. Our data suggest that non-anatomical r-LLR is a safe and feasible therapeutic approach to recurrent HCC.