Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) in the treatment of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Methods 74 patients with ICC were enrolled in our hospital between January 2015 and June 2018, and 32 patients received LLR and 42 underwent OLR. All patients in the two groups were followed-up for 3 years. Results There was no significant differences as respect to ages, gender, abdominal operation history, serum carbohydrate antigen 199 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels, nerve invasion, microvascular invasion, tumor low differentiation, tumor diameters and lymph node enlargement between the two groups (P>0.05); the intraoperative blood loss, surgical incision length, hepatic portal occlusion, postoperative hospital stay, percentages of blood transfusion and post-operational gastrointestinal function recovery in patients receiving LLR were 325(250, 475)ml, 5(3.5, 6.5)cm, 9 cases(28.1%), 7(5, 12)d, 2 cases(6.2%)and 2(2, 4)d, significantly different as compared to [500(375, 750)ml, 20.5(17.0, 25.0)cm, 31 cases(73.8%), 10(7, 15)d, 7 cases (16.7%) and 4(3, 6)d] in patients receiving OLR (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in one-year (81.2% vs. 76.2%) and three year (46.8% vs. 33.3%) survivals between the two groups (P>0.05); no severe untoward effects post-operationally occurred in our series. Conclusion At present, the LLR might be an alternative option for patients with ICC, although the OLR is still underwent in some circumstances, so the surgeon could make choice based on the patients' conditions and the technical requirement.

Key words: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, Laparoscopic liver resection, Open liver resection, Therapy, Survival