Published online Mar 16, 2014. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v6.i3.60
Revised: January 29, 2014
Accepted: March 3, 2014
Published online: March 16, 2014
Processing time: 91 Days and 0.3 Hours
Core tip: This minireview presents the importance of laparoscopy in facilitating laparoscopic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, and the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred management of benign and malignant disease for selected patients. The advantages include confirmation of diagnosis, prevention of nontherapeutic operations, decreased hospital stay and better post-operative function and cosmetic outcome. Meta-analyses demonstrate that laparoscopic liver resections, pancreatectomies and cholecystectomies are efficacious. There is less blood loss; the hospital stays are shorter with laparoscopic surgeries. There is no compromise to the oncological resection margins when compared to open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is safe and efficacious in the management of benign and malignant hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases.