Liver Resection
Overview
Liver resection is surgery to remove a piece of your liver. We often perform this surgery to remove a suspicious growth (cancerous or noncancerous).
The liver is on your right side, just under the rib cage. It produces bile to help digest food and rids your body of toxins.
The liver can grow back (hypertrophy) when part of it is removed. Up to half your liver can be removed if the remaining part is healthy or not damaged by cirrhosis or chemotherapy.
We may perform liver resection when colorectal cancer spreads to the liver. We remove the mass and surrounding tissue to stop the spread of cancer.
The remaining liver takes over the function of the entire liver for a few weeks while it grows back to its normal size.
Risk Factors
Certain conditions put you at higher risk of liver cancer and the need for liver resection.
Chronic viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), infects the liver. It may become long term (chronic). The damage can lead to cancer years after the original infection.
Cirrhosis is a condition that occurs when liver cells are damaged and replaced with scar tissue. Most people with liver cancer have signs of cirrhosis.
Aflatoxins are harmful substances made by a fungus that can grow on peanuts, corn, rice, wheat, and soybeans. Safety measures are in place to regulate the amount of aflatoxins in our food supply.
Colorectal cancer increases your risk of needing a liver resection.
Multiple risk factors further increase your risk of liver cancer. However, just because you’re at risk for liver cancer doesn’t mean you’ll develop it.
You can lower your risk for liver cancer:
- Stop drinking alcohol if you’re a heavy drinker. Talk with us about ways to quit.
- Get treatment if you’re infected with HBV or HCV. Avoid spreading it to others.
- Get the HBV vaccine, if you’re not already infected. Currently, there’s no preventative vaccine for HCV.
Symptoms
It’s possible you may not have any symptoms to indicate you need a liver resection.
Symptoms caused by liver cancer or another condition include:
- Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- A hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage
- Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right side
- Pain around the right shoulder blade
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusual tiredness
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
Diagnosis
We may use a few tests to diagnose liver disease.
Blood tests. We test to see if liver enzymes are elevated, which might indicate bile duct, gallbladder, or liver disease.
Ultrasound. An ultrasound can show tumors growing inside or outside the liver. It uses sound waves to create a picture of internal organs and structures.
Imaging scans. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) take detailed pictures of areas inside the body to identify an abnormal mass.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans. A nuclear medicine test that shows how well your tissues and organs are working. It helps us determine how far the cancer has spread.
Surgery
Liver resection offers the greatest chance of curing this type of cancer. It’s a complex and major operation.
- It usually takes 2 to 6 hours.
- You are under general anesthesia during surgery.
- We may give you an epidural to help control pain after surgery.
Depending on how far the cancer has spread, you have a 40 to 60 percent chance of a cure after surgery (when tissue margins show healthy tissue). We’ll know more when we get your pathology report back after surgery.
The amount of liver removed depends on the number, size, and location of the tumors. If necessary, we will remove the bile ducts and gallbladder during a liver resection.
During surgery, we might find that the lump (or cancer) is more advanced than we thought. If so, we may:
- Not perform the procedure as originally planned.
- Take a smaller sample of tissue (biopsy) instead.
After the biopsy is tested, we’ll talk together about your options. You may need further surgery or other treatment.
After Your Surgery
Because liver resection is a major operation, recovery takes time.
Most people must stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after surgery. This depends on your surgery, and if you have any problems related to it.
Possible side effects include:
- Pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Bleeding
- Infections
- Temporary liver failure
Possible Complications
There are other possible complications that can occur with liver resection.
Leaking bile from the liver. If this occurs, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days and possibly have additional procedures or surgery.
Stomach sickness if your stomach slows down after surgery. It may take several days or weeks before your stomach settles down.
Pneumonia can occur. It’s important to get out of bed and walk as soon as possible. We recommend that you use your incentive spirometer 10 times every hour while you’re awake to prevent pneumonia.
Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can cause bowel obstruction. This can be a short-term or a long-term complication. It may require further surgery.
Additional References
Disclaimer
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This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.