OUR EXPERIENCE WITH LAPAROSCOPIC LIVER RESECTION FOR VARIOUS LIVER PATHOLOGIES

Background: Laparoscopic liver resection is a minimally invasive procedure that offers reduced surgical trauma, decreased blood loss, and faster recovery compared with open liver surgery. This study evaluated clinical safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic liver resection in a high-volume surgical center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review included 471 liver resections carried out from 2017 to April 2025. The cohort consisted of 107 laparoscopic operations and 364 open operations. Patient demographic characteristics, operative parameters, postoperative hospital stay, and complication rates were analyzed. Surgical indications comprised echinococcosis, alveococcosis, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic hemangioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic liver tumors, cystadenoma, and polycystic liver disease. Results: Laparoscopic surgery showed significantly shorter operative duration (224.5 minutes versus 380 minutes), reduced intraoperative blood loss (147 milliliters versus 293 milliliters), and shorter hospitalization (5.3 days versus 10 days). Postoperative complications occurred in 0.9 percent after laparoscopic procedures and in 4.1 percent after open procedures. No deaths were recorded following laparoscopic surgery, while postoperative mortality in the open group reached 1.37 percent. Laparoscopic liver resection was predominantly used for atypical peripheral liver resections and resections of the left lateral section, whereas major and extended liver resections remained more common with open access. Conclusion: Laparoscopic liver resection demonstrated high safety, favorable perioperative outcomes, and strong clinical effectiveness, supporting further expansion of minimally invasive approaches in hepatobiliary surgery.