Ultrasound-guided Laparoscopic Cryoablation of Hepatic Tumors: Preliminary Report

n= 8, 44.4%), subdiaphragmatic fluid collection (n= 3, 16.6%), worsening hepatic insufficiency in a cirrhotic patient (n= 1, 5.5%), and wound infection in a patient converted to open surgery (n= 1, 5.5%). The mean hospital stay was 6.4 days (range 3–14 days). At a mean follow-up of 10.8 months (range 5–16 months) all patients are alive and 14 are disease-free, as demonstrated by normalization of tumor markers and negative magnetic resonance imaging. In carefully selected patients total laparoscopic ultrasound-guided cryoablation is feasible and safe. A longer period of follow-up is required to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure and its impact on survival.