title: Laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the longterm survival outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy with those who were subjected to open hepatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, case-control study; patients in the 2 groups were matched according to age, sex, body mass index (BMI), liver function, underlying liver disease, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, tumor location and type of resection. A total of 118 patients (laparoscopy, N = 59; open, N = 59) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient characteristics did not differ between the groups. Postoperative 30-day complication rates did not differ between the groups. Pathological data did not differ between the two groups. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were not different between the laparoscopy and open groups. The laparoscopic approach was not an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence or mortality compared with the open approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no differences in the oncologic outcomes between laparoscopic and open hepatectomy groups, suggesting that laparoscopic hepatectomy for HCC is a safe and effective option that does not increase the risk of serious complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biology Postdoctoral Workstation, Basic School of Medicine Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiugui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jufang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Leping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome