PROCEDURES
Liver Resection and Metastasectomy
Liver resection is the removal of part of the liver. Also known as a hepatectomy, liver resection prevents the spread of liver cancer. A metastasectomy removes secondary cancer or metastases that originate from another region of the body. While radiation or ablation may help cure small, early-stage liver cancer, a partial hepatectomy removes a portion of the liver. Partial liver resection is necessary when a tumour grows inside the liver, and the disease can be controlled.
PROCEDURES
Liver Resection and Metastasectomy
Liver resection is the removal of part of the liver. Also known as a hepatectomy, liver resection prevents the spread of liver cancer. A metastasectomy removes secondary cancer or metastases that originate from another region of the body. While radiation or ablation may help cure small, early-stage liver cancer, a partial hepatectomy removes a portion of the liver. Partial liver resection is necessary when a tumour grows inside the liver, and the disease can be controlled.
Of course, a CT or MRI scan together with an angiography will determine whether it’s possible to resect the tumour. The tumour may be too large or could have already moved to other regions of the body. Many patients with liver cancer have underlying cirrhosis. When the cancer is resected, a border of healthy liver tissue is required to ensure complete removal of cancer. There may not be enough liver to perform resection. Because there’s insufficient liver tissue, surgery cannot take place. In the healthy liver, a certain volume of manipulating procedures may be performed such as portal vein embolisation to allow for growth of the non-cancerous liver. This may make previous non-resectable liver metastasis resectable.
Only skilled surgeons can perform such complicated surgery. The hepato-pancreaticobiliary surgeon removes the entire tumour but leaves enough tissue for the liver to work as it did before.
Patients who have cancer spread to their liver need an evaluation to determine if they are eligible for surgery. Medicine and surgery are ever-evolving, and more and more metastatic liver cancers can now be cured. The number of lesions is no longer a contraindication to surgery.
PROCEDURE
Liver resection aims to remove all liver tumours with a margin of tissue. It’s comforting to know that some of the liver can rejuvenate within weeks. A diseased liver, however, cannot replenish itself to the same extent as a healthy liver. Blood tests and in some cases a biopsy of a non-cancerous portion of the liver confirms or rules out cirrhosis. If a biopsy is required, it can be done under local anaesthetic with a special needle. Overnight stay will be required.
RECOVERY
Recovery after liver surgery may vary a lot depending on the size of the remaining liver portion and the function of the liver tissue. Cirrhotic patients and patients who have had a lot of chemotherapy may require more liver volume to maintain normal function than a healthy liver. Therefore recovery will be determined by many factors. The most common aspects to expect after liver surgery are: Pain over the scar and within the abdomen which will be managed with analgesia. Slight swelling of the legs may occur, and dietary supplementation will be advised. At least a six week period is required before strenuous activities can be restarted.
Of course, a CT or MRI scan together with an angiography will determine whether it’s possible to resect the tumour. The tumour may be too large or could have already moved to other regions of the body. Many patients with liver cancer have underlying cirrhosis. When the cancer is resected, a border of healthy liver tissue is required to ensure complete removal of cancer. There may not be enough liver to perform resection. Because there’s insufficient liver tissue, surgery cannot take place. In the healthy liver, a certain volume of manipulating procedures may be performed such as portal vein embolisation to allow for growth of the non-cancerous liver. This may make previous non-resectable liver metastasis resectable.
Only skilled surgeons can perform such complicated surgery. The hepato-pancreaticobiliary surgeon removes the entire tumour but leaves enough tissue for the liver to work as it did before.
Patients who have cancer spread to their liver need an evaluation to determine if they are eligible for surgery. Medicine and surgery are ever-evolving, and more and more metastatic liver cancers can now be cured. The number of lesions is no longer a contraindication to surgery.
PROCEDURE
Liver resection aims to remove all liver tumours with a margin of tissue. It’s comforting to know that some of the liver can rejuvenate within weeks. A diseased liver, however, cannot replenish itself to the same extent as a healthy liver. Blood tests and in some cases a biopsy of a non-cancerous portion of the liver confirms or rules out cirrhosis. If a biopsy is required, it can be done under local anaesthetic with a special needle. Overnight stay will be required.
RECOVERY
Recovery after liver surgery may vary a lot depending on the size of the remaining liver portion and the function of the liver tissue. Cirrhotic patients and patients who have had a lot of chemotherapy may require more liver volume to maintain normal function than a healthy liver. Therefore recovery will be determined by many factors. The most common aspects to expect after liver surgery are: Pain over the scar and within the abdomen which will be managed with analgesia. Slight swelling of the legs may occur, and dietary supplementation will be advised. At least a six week period is required before strenuous activities can be restarted.