Laparoscopic Right Hepatectomy Via Anterior Approach: The Experience at a Single Center

1. Abstract
1.1. Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of the “five-step” laparoscopic right hepatectomy via the anterior approach on the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and summarize the experience.
1.2. Background: Right hepatectomy via the anterior approach has been used for hepatocellular carcinoma in many medical centers because of its advantages. However, due to the long operation time and high technical requirements, no standard approach has been suggested for total laparoscopic right hepatectomy.
1.3. Methods: A total of 50 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (diameter > 5 cm) diagnosed at our center from December 2015 to September 2018 were retrospectively divided into an anterior approach group (AA, n = 25) and a conventional approach group (CA, n = 25). The “five-step” laparoscopic right hepatectomy via the anterior approach was used in the AA group, and the open conventional approach was used in the CA group. The perioperative results and long-term survival results of the two groups were analyzed.