Laparoscopic and open minor liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with clinically significant portal hypertension: a multicenter study using inverse probability weighting approach

Background Liver resection offers substantial advantages over open liver resection (OLR) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of reduced intraoperative blood loss and morbidity. However, there is limited evidence comparing the indications and perioperative outcomes with the open versus laparoscopic approach for resection. This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and OLR for HCC with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). Methods A total of 316 HCC patients with CSPH (the presence of gastroesophageal varices or platelet count 12 cm) undergoing minor liver resection at eight centers were included in this study. To adjust for confounding factors between the LLR and OLR groups, an inverse probability weighting method analysis was performed. Results Overall, 193 patients underwent LLR and 123 underwent OLR. After weighting, LLR was associated with a lower volume of intraoperative blood loss and the incidence of postoperative complications (including pulmonary complications, incisional surgical site infection, and paralytic ileus) compared to the OLR group. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year postoperative recurrence-free survival rates were 39%, 26%, and 22% in the LLR group and 49%, 18%, and 18% in the OLR group, respectively ( p = 0.18). And, the 3-, 5-, and 7-year postoperative overall survival rates were 71%, 56%, and 44% in the LLR group and 76%, 51%, 44% in the OLR group, respectively ( p = 0.87). Conclusions LLR for HCC patients with CSPH is clinically advantageous by lowering the volume of intraoperative blood loss and incidence of postoperative complications, thereby offering feasible long-term survival. Graphical abstract