Liver surgery

Atypical liver resection

In this operation there is removal of one or more parts of the liver by so called wedge resections. This is often sufficient in small peripheral tumors. The small defect that remains is frequently closed by growth and regeneration in due course. The hospital stay is usually only 5-7 days.

Right/Left hemihepatectomy

In this much larger operation the right or left half of the liver is completely removed. This operation is frequently done if colorectal or other cancer metastases are present. Because the liver has two main lobes (each has 4 segments) either lobe can be removed provided that the remaining liver is healthy. It will then grow quickly and can reach 85% of the original size after a few weeks.

Extended right/left hemihepatectomy

In this very large liver operation approximately 75% of the liver (6 of 8 Segments) are removed. This procedure must be performed in many cases of the so called Klatskin tumor (a malignant tumor of the bile system) or in excessive liver metastasis sparing the left lateral segments. Because the right or left bile duct is being removed along with the liver tissue a small bowel loop must be connected to the draining bile duct of the remaining liver to provide bile outflow and drainage.

Possible complications

Risks of this operation are biliary leakage (because the bile ducts have been transsected), bleeding and infection. With inceasing amount of liver tissue removal the risk of liver dysfunction or worse complete liver failure increases. The mortality risk is around 8%, hospital duration is 10-14 days.