Page 60 - Read Online

Kato et al. Hepatoma Res 2021;7:10 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2020.129

Original Article Open Access

Robotic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma:
a focus on anatomic resection

Yutaro Kato, Atsushi Sugioka, Ichiro Uyama

Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yutaro Kato, Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University, 1-98, Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho,
Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. E-mail: y-kato@fujita-hu.ac.jp

How to cite this article: Kato Y, Sugioka A, Uyama I. Robotic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a focus on anatomic
resection. Hepatoma Res 2021;7:10. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2020.129

Received: 19 Oct 2020 First Decision: 19 Nov 2020 Revised: 30 Nov 2020 Accepted: 7 Dec 2020 Published: 7 Jan 2021

Academic Editor: Ho-Seong Han Copy Editor: Miao Zhang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
Aim: Robotic liver resection (RLR) is a new platform for minimally invasive hepatobiliary surgery. Minimally
Received: First Decision: Revised: Accepted: Published: invasive surgery can confer benefits to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is mostly associated
with underlying chronic liver disease. Despite the inherent functional merits of robotics for surgical techniques,
Science Editor: Copy Editor: Production Editor: Jing Yu the clinical advantages of hepatectomy are not well defined. Therefore, we reviewed the short-term and long-
term surgical results of 57 HCC cases in 46 patients who underwent RLR at our institution.

Methods: We evaluated the feasibility and safety of robotic anatomic liver resection for HCC by comparing the
results of the anatomic resection (AR) group (n = 23) and non-anatomic resection (NAR) group (n = 34).

Results: Overall (n = 57), the liver-specific console time was 487 min, blood loss was 194 g, and there was
one open conversion (2%). Postoperative data showed acceptable hepatic functional recovery, with a major
complication rate of 11% and no 90-day mortality. Compared to NAR, AR was associated with longer operative
and console times, more blood loss, and worse postoperative liver function, thus reflecting the greater extent and
complexity of hepatectomies for more advanced-stage tumors than NAR. Nonetheless, major complication rate,
mortality rate, length of hospital stay, and R0 resection rate were comparable between groups. Long-term results
were comparable to those of previously reported hepatectomies for HCC and were similar between groups.

Conclusion: RLR including AR may be a safe and feasible form of hepatectomy for select patients with HCC.

© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

www.hrjournal.net