Technical innovation: gasless laparoscopic hepatectomy using self-designed abdominal lifting system.

In this article, we describe a new technique for performing a laparoscopic-assisted hepatectomy, using a self-designed abdominal wall-lifting systems. We used this system for 5 patients; 2 were left lateral segmentectomy, 1 was S6 segmentectomy, and 1 was S8 wedge resection, and the other was an extended left hepatectomy. This procedure can minimize the length of the wound, while avoiding the lethal complications associated with the pneumoperitonium. This device and technique can also provide a bridge for young or less-experienced surgeons to be familiar with advanced laparoscopic surgery from open surgery. Also, the patients under such an operation were found to have fast postoperation recovery and short hospital stay.