Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2021; 13(7): 732-757
Published online Jul 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i7.732
Laparoscopic liver resection for colorectal liver metastases — short- and long-term outcomes: A systematic review
Emily Taillieu, Celine De Meyere, Frederiek Nuytens, Chris Verslype, Mathieu D'Hondt
Emily Taillieu, Celine De Meyere, Frederiek Nuytens, Mathieu D'Hondt, Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk 8500, Belgium
Chris Verslype, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
Author contributions: Taillieu E Performed the research, acquired the data, analyzed the data, wrote the paper; De Meyere C and Nuytens F supervised the paper; Verslype C and D’Hondt M designed the research, supervised the paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mathieu D'Hondt, MD, Doctor, Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, AZ Groeninge, President Kennedylaan 4, Kortrijk 8500, Belgium. mathieudhondt2000@yahoo.com
Received: January 4, 2021
Peer-review started: January 4, 2021
First decision: May 3, 2021
Revised: May 16, 2021
Accepted: June 25, 2021
Article in press: June 25, 2021
Published online: July 15, 2021
Processing time: 186 Days and 20.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

For well-selected patients and procedures, laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has become the gold standard for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) when performed in specialized centers. However, little is currently known concerning patient-related and peri-operative factors that could play a role in survival outcomes associated with LLR for CRLM.

AIM

To provide an extensive summary of reported outcomes and prognostic factors associated with LLR for CRLM.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library using the keywords “colorectal liver metastases”, “laparoscopy”, “liver resection”, “prognostic factors”, “outcomes” and “survival”. Only publications written in English and published until December 2019 were included. Furthermore, abstracts of which no accompanying full text was published, reviews, case reports, letters, protocols, comments, surveys and animal studies were excluded. All search results were saved to Endnote Online and imported in Rayyan for systematic selection. Data of interest were extracted from the included publications and tabulated for qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

Out of 1064 articles retrieved by means of a systematic and grey literature search, 77 were included for qualitative analysis. Seventy-two research papers provided data concerning outcomes of LLR for CRLM. Fourteen papers were eligible for extraction of data concerning prognostic factors affecting survival outcomes. Qualitative analysis of the collected data showed that LLR for CRLM is safe, feasible and provides oncological efficiency. Multiple research groups have reported on the short-term advantages of LLR compared to open procedures. The obtained results accounted for minor LLR, as well as major LLR, simultaneous laparoscopic colorectal and liver resection, LLR of posterosuperior segments, two-stage hepatectomy and repeat LLR for CRLM. Few research groups so far have studied prognostic factors affecting long-term outcomes of LLR for CRLM.

CONCLUSION

In experienced hands, LLR for CRLM provides good short- and long-term outcomes, independent of the complexity of the procedure.

Keywords: Laparoscopic liver resection; Colorectal liver metastases; Outcomes; Prognostic factors; Systematic review

Core Tip: Laparoscopic liver surgery has been widely adopted over the last few years. Meanwhile, laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has become the gold standard for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in specialized centers and for well-selected patients and procedures. However, little is known concerning patient-related and peri-operative factors potentially playing a role in survival outcomes associated with LLR for CRLM. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an extensive summary of reported outcomes and prognostic factors associated with LLR for CRLM.