Fulvio Calise • Luciano Casciola
Editors
2013
New technologies and a generation of surgeons mastering advanced minimally invasive surgery have greatly contributed to the development and growth of laparoscopic hepatic surgery. Skepticism related to technical and oncological concerns initially limited the widespread acceptance and growth of this approach. However, the positive results obtained by skilled surgeons using the laparoscopic technique clearly demonstrate its advantages, as does the rate of oncologic clearance and disease-free interval for primary and secondary tumors, which is comparable with that of open procedures. Now, both minor and major hepatectomies are performed in specialized centers worldwide, and the slow diffusion rate of the technique itself guarantees that safe procedures are implemented.