Background and objectives: Laparoscopic access to the posterosuperior and lateral parts of the right liver is difficult for blocked and deep surgical situations. We invented a novel water bag device (WBD) to improve the exposure of the right liver.
Methods: Eighteen consecutive patients with lesions isolated to the posterosuperior or lateral right liver were included in our research. They underwent laparoscopic right hepatectomy with the help of the device and were compared with previous similar laparoscopic cases of our operating surgeon.
Results: The device was successfully employed without related complications and provided enhanced and stable surgical exposure. All patients were operated on without the need for blood transfusions or laparotomy conversion. The median operation time and estimated blood loss were 227 minutes (range, 114-568) and 88 mL (range, 25-250), respectively. In all cases, tumor-free surgical margins were confirmed and no major complications were observed. The results were better than those in previous similar laparoscopic cases.
Conclusions: The WBD is safe and effective for laparoscopic exposure when lesions are located in the posterosuperior and lateral parts of the right liver. With the help of the device, laparoscopic right liver resection is easier to perform instead of undergoing open hepatectomy.
Keywords: laparoscopic exposure; laparoscopic surgery; liver surgery; right hepatectomy; surgical techniques.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.