A New Minimally Invasive Approach to the Posterior Right Segments of the Liver: Report of the First Two Cases.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive liver surgery has gained increasing popularity over the past decade. Nevertheless, laparoscopic treatment of lesions located in the posterior-superior locations remains challenging because of the difficulty to reach a safe exposition of those regions of the liver. We present a new retroperitoneoscopic approach for the minimally invasive treatment of posterior tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May and July 2018, 2 patients with solitary liver metastasis of colorectal origin underwent retroperitoneoscopic liver resection in the prone position. The operation was conducted with three to four trocars, the CO2 insufflation pressure was set at 20 mmHg. Liver transection was carried out by alternating bipolar coagulation and clips, without clamping of the hepatic inflow.

RESULTS: There were no intra- or postoperative complications. The procedure was completed in both cases without conversion after 120 to 180 minutes, respectively. Complete resection was achieved in both cases. Hospital stay was 3 and 5 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopic liver resection is feasible and safe. This approach could be suggested as an additional therapeutic option, especially in cases of redo resection at the posterior segments.