Liver resection is a surgical procedure to remove part of the liver due to damage from a tumor or trauma. It can also be done to remove a healthy liver from a donor to save a patient’s life. The procedure involves rerouting bile ducts and arteries to the remaining sections of the liver. Complications may arise, and recovery requires monitoring for unusual symptoms.
A liver resection is a surgical procedure in which part of the liver is removed. As part of the process, the bile ducts and arteries connected to the removed segment are rerouted to the remaining sections of the liver, allowing the organ to continue functioning. Liver resection surgery usually occurs after a section of the liver has been permanently damaged due to the presence of a malignant tumor or due to severe trauma to the organ.
Because the liver is essential for human life, a liver resection is sometimes done to remove all or a segment of a healthy liver from a donor. This most often occurs after the death of a donor who wanted his body for organ harvesting. The harvested segment or entire liver is extracted from the deceased donor and used to save the life of a patient whose liver is failing and cannot be repaired.
In situations where the surgeon thinks the liver can be saved, a procedure to reshape the liver will be done. With a liver cancer resection, the surgeon will carefully detach any bile ducts, arteries, or veins that are connected to the segment damaged by the tumor. At this point, the surgeon carefully reattaches the ducts and arteries to the healthy sections of the liver, allowing the rest of the organ to continue to function normally. Once the connections are complete, the diseased or damaged part is surgically removed and the open section of the liver is closed.
With liver resection, it is even more common to make an incision and treat the damaged or infected liver. However, laparoscopic liver resection can effectively treat many situations and also minimize recovery time for the patient. A surgeon can assess the situation and determine what form of surgery would be in the patient’s best interest.
As with any type of invasive procedure, there is a potential for some complications of liver resection. The tumor may be larger than originally thought, making it necessary to remove more of the liver than originally planned. In some cases, the liver may be so infected that the organ cannot be saved. At that point, a donor is sought out to provide a healthy liver section, checking with organ banks or testing relatives to see if anyone is close enough to minimize the chances of rejection.
In terms of liver resection recovery, the patient is likely to experience the pain associated with any type of surgical procedure. Usually, the pain should increase within two to three days after the procedure, then gradually decrease. During the recovery period, it is essential to pay attention to any type of swelling, leakage from the incision, or significant increase in general body temperature. Any unusual symptoms should be reported immediately, so they can be addressed and treated as deemed necessary by the treating physician.
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