Robotic liver resection: a single surgeon's experience.

BACKGROUND

Liver resection has long been a complicated challenge in terms of minimally invasive surgery. However, robotic surgery has expanded the number of surgical procedures that can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. This study describes the authors’ experience of 17 robotic liver resections performed using the da Vinci Surgical System.

METHODS

From May 2010 to May 2012, 17 patients underwent robotic liver resection at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Only patients who underwent left hepatectomy or left lateral sectionectomy were included in the study.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients had hepatocellular carcinoma, one had a biliary cyst, one had a dysplastic nodule, one had fibronodular hyperplasia, and one had a left intrahepatic duct stone. The mean operative time was 267.06 ± 84.62 minutes and the mean estimated blood loss was 264.71 ± 104.23 mL. No open conversion was required. The mean tumor size was 2.98 ± 1.47 cm and the mean hospital stay was 7.58 ± 2.26 days.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm the safety and feasibility of robotic liver resection. As surgeons become more experienced with robotic liver resection and the technology improves, more patients will benefit from this approach.