Application of laparoscopic liver surgery techniques in laparoscopic thermal ablation of liver tumors

Abstract Background Laparoscopic thermal ablation (LTA) of liver tumors is an increasingly performed procedure, but its application is limited when tumor location is unfavorable. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of LTA assisted by laparoscopic liver surgery techniques (LLSTs) in challenging cases. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent LTA with LLSTs at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University) from April 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 61 lesions in 28 patients (mean age: 56.50 ± 9.65 years) with multifocal liver tumors were included. The technical success rate was 100%, with an average ablation duration of 22.32 ± 12.53 min (10.25 ± 1.29 min per lesion). Average blood loss was 85.71 ± 40.50 ml, and the average hospital stay was 4.43 ± 1.50 days. No major postoperative complications were observed, and patients with minor complications recovered after conservative treatment. During follow-up, one lesion developed local recurrence, resulting in a local control rate of 95.08%. Conclusions LTA assisted by LLSTs is a safe and feasible technique for challenging liver tumor cases, though further exploration is warranted to address remaining limitations.