Abstract

The surgical technique employed in laparoscopic liver resection is characterized by its great complexity. It is also associated to a long learning curve, which determines that this procedure is only completed in certain reference centers by few highly trained surgeons. Other challenges related to this minimally invasive approach are greater operatory risk due to vascular control, necessity in employing highly sophisticated surgical technology and to have this expensive equipment. Though it involves stages common to other laparoscopic interventions in abdominal surgery, it also requires procedures-specific steps and knowledge such as the use of intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound, indispensable when planning the surgical strategy and in fulfilling hepatic transection. Laparoscopic liver resection was initially used only in resecting small peripheral hepatic lesions. With the development of this technique, more complex operations have been completed such as segmentectomies and major hepatectomies. Now has even grown to develop in liver transplantation, especially in living donor cases. However, there is still controversy in employing this difficult technique in all resections, specifically in challenging procedures such as caudate or posterior segments excision. Through this article, the surgical technique employed in laparoscopic liver resection will be displayed, including pediatric living donor surgery.