Objective To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients with primary hepatic carcinoma treated with laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) with those treated with open hepatectomy (OH).Methods From January 2010 to August 2014, 100 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma were randomly divided into the LH group and OH group respectively, 50 patients in each group. And the incision length, blood loss, operative time, postoperative liver function, anus exhaust time, complications, length of postoperative hospital stay, and cost measures were compared.Results LH could achieve shorter incision length, less blood loss, more rapid recovery in liver function and gastrointestinal function, and shorter postoperative hospital stay length compared with OH for primary hepatic carcinoma patients (all P<0.05). However, LH could not significantly shorten operative time, and reduce postoperative complications and hospitalization cost (all P>0.05).Conclusion Compared with OH, LH could improve perioperative outcomes of primary hepatic carcinoma patients.

Key words: laparoscopy, laparotomy, primary hepatic carcinoma, perioperative outcomes