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Belli. Hepatoma Res 2016;2:239-40 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2016.16
www.hrjournal.net
Topic: Advances in Minimally Invasive Cirrhotic Surgery Open Access

Introduction of the special issue: “Advances

in Minimally Invasive Cirrhotic Surgery”

Giulio Belli
General and HPB Surgery, Loreto Nuovo Hospital, 80121 Naples, Italy.

Correspondence to: Prof. Giulio Belli, General and HPB Surgery, Loreto Nuovo Hospital, 80121 Naples, Italy.
E-mail: chirurgia.loretonuovo@tin.it

How to cite this article: Belli G. Introduction of the special issue: “Advances in Minimally Invasive Cirrhotic Surgery”. Hepatoma Res 2016;2:239-40.
Article history: Received: 16-05-2016 Accepted: 26-05-2016 Published: 19-09-2016

Prof. Giulio Belli obtained his MD degree from University of Naples in 1975. He is the Head of General and HPB
Surgery, Loreto Nuovo Hospital, Naples, Italy since 2000. He is Founder member of the World Association of
HepatoBilairyPancreatic Association (WHBPA), Former member of the Scientific Committee of International
HepatoPancreatoBiliary Association (IHPBA), Former Member of the Council of the European Hepato-Pancreato-
Biliary Association (EHPBA), Founder and Member of the Council of International HepatoPancreatoBiliary
Association-Italian Chapter (IT-IHPBA), etc. He serves as Editorial Board Member and Reviewer for many
famous journals. Also he is author of 11 HPB book chapters, Invited Speaker in 105 National and 61 International
Congress, and author of 351 pubblications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most surgery, becoming the gold standard in the surgical
common type of cancer worldwide and the third treatment of much pathology such as biliary lithiasis and
leading cause of cancer-related death. It is the most gastro-esophageal reflux. Since the first laparoscopic
common primary liver cancer and its incidence hepatectomy reported in 1991, laparoscopic liver
increases when associated with the development of surgery developed more slowly. There are many
cirrhosis. Liver resection is a curative therapy, when reasons for the slow diffusion of the laparoscopic hepatic
liver transplantation due to the patient age and alcohol surgery, such as the presumed technical difficulties,
abuse, associated diseases, and shortage of donors, the complicated management of the bleeding during
is not feasible, During the last decades, progress in parenchymal transection, the lack of dedicated tools
preoperative patient assessment, refinement of the and the presumed risk of gas embolism. However,
indications for resection, improved surgical technique, despite this initial slow development, laparoscopic liver
and the development of new surgical devices have surgery is now performed worldwide, even in cirrhotic
greatly enhanced the safety of open hepatectomy patients. After the 2 Consensus Conferences (Louisville-
in normal and even in cirrhotic liver. After the first USA, 2008 and Morioka-Japan, 2014) the advantages
laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed about 30 years connected with the mininvasive approach are evident,
ago, laparoscopic approach has been applied more important and significant, especially in the treatment of
and more frequently to the full spectrum of abdominal HCC in cirrhotic liver.

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