Original ResearchApplication of the laparoscopic technique in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma surgery

•This is a preliminary experience of the application of laparoscopic technique in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma surgery.•Our study include nearly all Bismuth types of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, only except Bismuth type IIIa.•Nearly all the processes have performed under laparoscopy.

IntroductionThe aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of the application of the laparoscopic technique in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.MethodsA total of nine cases of patients who received laparoscopic perihilar cholangiocarcinoma surgery from January 2007 to May 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The Bismuth subtypes consisted of one case of type I, three cases of type II, two cases of type IIIb, and three cases type IV.ResultsRadical resection was conducted in six cases: two cases (type II) with the caudate lobe resection, and two cases (type IIIb) with the left hepatectomy and caudate lobe resection. The mean operation time was 7.3 h (5.5-8.5 h), the mean blood loss was 503 ml (150-850 ml). The pathological tests showed two cases of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, three cases of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and four cases of highly differentiated adenocarcinoma.ConclusionLaparoscopic technology in the surgical treatment of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is an option for the resection approach.