Minor laparoscopic liver resection: toward 1-day surgery?

Minor laparoscopic liver resection: toward 1-day surgery?

de’Angelis N, Menahem B, Compagnon P, Merle JC, Brunetti F, Luciani A, Cherqui D, Laurent A. Surg Endosc. 2017 Nov;31(11):4458-4465

What is already known:

Twenty-four hour stays have been reported in specialities such as colorectal, robotic gynaecology surgery and even robotic prostate surgery. Liver surgery however has traditionally always been performed as open surgery, with prolonged lengths of stay and high potential for morbidity. But as laparoscopic techniques improve then that perception can and will change.

What this paper adds:

This was a small French cohort study of 24 patients undergoing minor (<3 segments) Laparoscopic Liver Resection. They all followed a comprehensive ERAS programme with a standardised anaesthetic and analgesic protocol. All were discharged on post-operative day one, less than 24 hours post-op. There were no complications, although there was 1 readmission (4.2%) who required antibiotics for a wound abscess. Demonstrating that even for potentially high-risk surgery, day stay is possible.

Chris Jones, Guildford. @chrisnjones