©The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Feb 27, 2026; 18(2): 115841
Published online Feb 27, 2026. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v18.i2.115841
Published online Feb 27, 2026. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v18.i2.115841
Laparoscopic surgery for complex hepatolithiasis: A step forward in minimally invasive hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery
Zi-Ying Sun, Shu-Wei Zhou, Department of Radiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Si-Yu Wang, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kunshan Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215300, Jiangsu Province, China
Noble Chibuike Opara, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Abuja 900001, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Zhong-Yu Han, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Jie Yang, Department of Emergency, Kunshan Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215300, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Zi-Ying Sun and Si-Yu Wang.
Co-corresponding authors: Shu-Wei Zhou and Jie Yang.
Author contributions: Sun ZY wrote the original draft and edited the draft; Wang SY, Opara NC, and Han ZY performed literature search; Zhou SW designed and supervised the research; Yang J approved the final manuscript. Sun ZY and Wang SY are co-first authors, responsible for writing the original draft of the manuscript and making substantial contributions to its revisions and improvements. Zhou SW and Yang J are co-corresponding authors due to their significant contributions to the project’s overall direction and their involvement in overseeing the research process and manuscript preparation.
Supported by Research Project of Jiangsu Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. CYTF2024045; Youth Science Fund Project of Kunshan Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 2024QNJJ02; and Kunshan Youth Science and Technology Talent Support Project, No. 2025KSTJ04.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this manuscript.
Corresponding author: Jie Yang, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Emergency, Kunshan Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zuchongzhi Road, Suzhou 215300, Jiangsu Province, China. 961154245@qq.com
Received: October 27, 2025
Revised: December 16, 2025
Accepted: January 6, 2026
Published online: February 27, 2026
Processing time: 108 Days and 7.6 Hours
Revised: December 16, 2025
Accepted: January 6, 2026
Published online: February 27, 2026
Processing time: 108 Days and 7.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This article critically evaluates a recent study comparing laparoscopic and open surgery for complex hepatolithiasis. It highlights the laparoscopic approach’s advantages in recovery and wound outcomes alongside its longer operative time, and discusses the innovative use of Laennec’s capsule as an anatomical guide that represents a shift in surgical technique. The article further identifies current limitations and outlines necessary future research, including pragmatic randomized trials, detailed cost-effectiveness analyses, and direct comparisons between laparoscopic and robotic platforms.