Laparoscopic liver resection with the water-jet dissector.

Laparoscopic liver resection requires careful patient selection. Tumor size and location have a major influence on the feasibility of a laparoscopic operation. Isolation and ligation of blood vessels and bile ducts after selective liver dissection by suitable techniques are important for visual control of the operating field. Since the Jet-Cutter has proven to give excellent clinical results in conventional liver surgery, we carried out laparoscopic liver resections with the Jet-Cutter in six patients. Five tumors were located in the left liver lobe; the fifth was in segment 6. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. The patients were discharged from the hospital after a mean of 5.4 +/- 2.1 days.