Objective      To investigate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic liver resection for lesions located at the posterosuperior segment of the liver.       Methods      The clinical data of 161 patients with lesions located at the posterosuperior segment of the liver who received surgery at Southwest Hospital from January 2009 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 58 patients who received laparoscopic liver resection (LLR group)

and 103 patients who received open liver resection (OLR group).       Results      There were no significant differences in the age

gender

lesion diameter

Child-Pugh classification

sorts of diseases

locations

and operation method between the 2 groups. Of the 58 patients who received the laparoscopic liver resection

5 cases (8.62%) were converted to the open liver resection. There were no significant differences in the mean operative time

blood transfusion rate and R0 resection rate between the 2 groups. However

the mean intraoperative blood loss was less in the LLR group than in the OLR group (271.55±226.92 vs 451.94±365.21 mL

P0.01). The postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the LLR group than in the OLR group (9.98±4.40 vs 14.51±6.00 d

P0.01). There was a lower rate of postoperative complications in LLR group than in the OLR group (17.2% vs 46.6%

P0.01)

but there were no differences of severe complications between the 2 groups. There was no recurrence and death occurrence in the patients with  benign liver disease. The tumor recurrence occurred in 11 patients (30.56%) in the LLR group and 26 patients (34.21%) in the OLR group

which had no significant difference (P=0.701). There were also no significant differences in the 1-year rates of overall survival (94.44% vs 88.16%

P=0.498) and disease-free survival (88.89% vs 80.26%

P=0.256)

and the 3-year rates of overall survival (83.33% vs 69.74%

P=0.125) or disease-free survival (69.44% vs 65.79%

P=0.701)

between the 2 groups.       Conclusion      The laparoscopic liver resection is safe and feasible

and has the advantages of  minimal operative trauma

and quick recovery of patients

when it is applied to the treatment of lesions located at the posterosuperior segment of the liver.