Outcome of Liver Resection for Liver Tumours in Children: An Institutional Review from a Developing Country

Background: Availability of gadgets like Harmonic Scalpel allows liver resection to be performed with ease and minimal blood loss. The scenario is different in a developing country which lacks these modern gadgets. We present a review of our results of liver resection from a referral institute in a developing country. Patients and Methods: We reviewed children with liver resection done at our Institute from July 1999 - July 2006. Children with liver trauma and non operated tumour cases were excluded. Results: Twenty one resections were carried out in 7 years, achieving a 68.4% disease free survival rate. The most common presenting complaint was abdominal mass (19 /21-90%). The majority (85%, 18/21) were found to be malignant on histopathological examination. Anatomical resections were performed in 16 (85%) children; 4 developed tumour recurrence, 3 with recurrence did not respond to second line chemotherapy and died while waiting for reoperation. One with recurrent liver tumour refused further treatment. Two (10%) were lost to follow up. Conclusion: Liver resections can be safely performed in the absence of the modern gadgets, although presence of such gadgets would facilitate resection in terms of operating time and blood loss.