Hepatectomy



Definition

A hepactectomy is the surgical removal of the liver.


Purpose

Hepatectomies are performed to surgically remove tumors from the liver. Most liver cancers start in liver cells called "hepatocytes." The resulting cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma or malignant hepatoma.

The type of cancer that can be removed by hepatectomy is called a localized resectable (removable) liver cancer. It is diagnosed as such when there is no evidence that it has spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to any other parts of the body. Laboratory tests also show that the liver is working well. As part of a multidisciplinary approach, the procedure can offer a chance of long-term remission to patients otherwise guaranteed of having a poor outcome.

Demographics

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), liver cancer is relatively uncommon in the United States, although its incidence is rising, mostly as a result of the spread of hepatitis C. However, it is the most common cancer in Africa and Asia, with more than one million new cases diagnosed each year. In the United States, liver cancer and cancer of the bile ducts only account for about 1.5% of all cancer cases. Liver cancer is also associated with cirrhosis in 50–80% of patients.


Description

The extent of the hepatectomy will depend on the size, number, and location of the cancer. It also depends on whether liver function is still adequate. The surgeon may remove a part of the liver that contains the tumor, an entire lobe, or an even larger portion of the liver. In a partial hepatectomy, the surgeon leaves a margin of healthy liver tissue to maintain the functions of the liver. For some patients, liver transplantation may be indicated. In this case, the transplant surgeon performs a total hepatectomy, meaning that the patient's entire liver is removed, and it is replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. A liver transplant is an option only if the cancer has not spread outside the liver and only if a suitable donor liver can be found that matches the patient. While waiting for an adequate donor, the health care team monitors the patient's health while providing other therapy.

The surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia and is quite lengthy, requiring three to four hours. The anesthetized patient is face-up and both arms are drawn away from the body. Surgeons often usea

To remove a portion of the liver, the surgeon enters the patient's abdomen, and frees the affected part of the liver from the connecting tissues (B). The artery to the liver and hepatic duct are disconnected from the liver (C). The diseased part of the liver is cut away, and a cauterizing tool is used to stop the bleeding as the surgeon progresses (D). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
To remove a portion of the liver, the surgeon enters the patient's abdomen, and frees the affected part of the liver from the connecting tissues (B). The artery to the liver and hepatic duct are disconnected from the liver (C). The diseased part of the liver is cut away, and a cauterizing tool is used to stop the bleeding as the surgeon progresses (D). (
Illustration by GGS Inc.
)
heating pad and wrappings around the arms and legs to reduce losses in body temperature during the surgery. The patient's abdomen is opened by an incision across the upper abdomen and a midline-extension incision up to the xiphoid (the cartilage located at the bottom middle of the rib cage). The main steps of a partial hepatectomy then proceed as follows:

Diagnosis/Preparation

A diagnosis of liver cancer requiring an hepatectomy is obtained with the following procedures:

To prepare a patient for a hepactectomy, clean towels are laid across the patient's face, along the sides, and across the knees. The anterior portion of the chest, the abdomen, and the lower extremities down to the knees are scrubbed with betadine for 10 minutes. In the event of a patient being allergic to iodine, hibiscrub may be used as an alternative. On completion of the scrub, two sterile towels are used to pat the area dry. The area is then painted with iodine in alcohol, and draping proceeds with side drapes, arm board drapes, top and bottom drapes, and a large steridrape. Three suction devices, one diathermy pencil, and one forceps are placed conveniently around the field.


Aftercare

After an hepatectomy, the healing process takes time; the amount of time required to recover varies from patient to patient. Patients are often uncomfortable for the first few days following surgery and they are usually prescribed pain medication. The treating physician or nurse is available to discuss pain management . Patients usually feel very tired or weak for a while. Also, patients may have diarrhea and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. The health care team closely monitors the patient for bleeding, infection, liver failure, or other problems requiring immediate medical attention.

After a total hepatectomy followed by a liver transplant, the patient usually stays in the hospital for several weeks. During that time, the health care team constantly monitors how well the patient is accepting the donated liver. The patient is prescribed drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the transplant, which may cause puffiness in the face, high blood pressure, or an increase in body hair.


Risks

Patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis are at high risk when an hepatectomy is performed.

There are always risks with any surgery, but a hepatectomy that removes 25–60% of the liver carries more than the average risk. Pain, bleeding, infection, and/or injury to other areas in the abdomen, as well as death, are potential risks. Other risks include postoperative fevers, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection. Patients who undergo any type of abdominal surgery are also at risk to form blood clots in their legs. These blood clots can break free and move through the heart to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood clot may cause a serious problem called pulmonary embolism, a condition usually treated with blood-thinning medication. But in some cases, embolisms can cause death. There are special devices used to keep blood flowing through the legs during surgery to try to prevent clot formation.

There are also risks that are specific only to liver surgery. During the preoperative evaluation, the treatment team tries to evaluate the patient's liver so that they can decide what piece can safely be removed. Removal of a portion of the liver may cause the remaining liver to work poorly for a short period of time. The remaining part of the liver will begin to grow back within a few weeks and will improve. However, a patient may develop liver failure.


Normal results

The results of a hepactetomy are considered normal when liver function resumes following a partial hepatectomy, or when the transplant liver starts functioning in the case of a total hepatectomy.


Morbidity and mortality rates

Liver cancer may be cured by hepatectomy, although surgery is the treatment of choice for only a small fraction of patients with localized disease. Prognosis depends on the extent of the cancer and of liver function impairment. According to the NCI, five-year survival rates are very low in the United States, usually less than 10%. Non-Hispanic white men and women have the lowest incidence of and mortality rates for primary liver cancer. Rates in the black and Hispanic populations are roughly twice as high as the rates in whites. The highest incidence rate is in Vietnamese men (41.8 per 100,000), probably reflecting risks associated with the high prevalence of viral hepatitis infections in their homeland. Other Asian-American groups also have liver cancer incidence and mortality rates several times higher than the white population.


Alternatives

There are no alternatives because hepatectomies are performed when liver cancer does not respond to other treatments.


Resources

books

Blumgart, L. H. Surgery of the Liver and Biliary Tract. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1994.

Carr, B. I. Hepatocellular Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment (Current Clinical Oncology). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 2003.

Dionigi, R. and J. Madariaga. New Technologies for Liver Resections. Basel: S. Karger Publishing, 1997.

Okita, K. Progress in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment. New York: Springer Verlag, 2000.


periodicals

Ganti, A. L., A. Sardi, and J. Gordon. "Laparoscopic Treatment of Large True Cysts of the Liver and Spleen Is Ineffective." American Surgeon, 68 (November 2002): 1012–1017.

Hemming, A. W., D. R. Nelson, and A. I. Reed. "Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma." Minerva Chirurgica, 57 (October 2002): 575–585.

Joshi, R. M., P. K. Wagle, A. Darbari, D. G. Chhabra, P. S. Patnaik, and M. P. Katrak. "Hepatic Resection for Benign Liver Pathology—Report of Two Cases." Indian Journal of Gastroenterology, 21 (July–August 2003): 157–159.

Kammula, U. S., J. F. Buell, D. M. Labow, S. Rosen, J. M. Millis, and M. C. Posner. "Surgical Management of Benign Tumors of the Liver." International Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer, 30 (2000): 141–146.

Matot, I., O. Scheinin, A. Eid, and O. Jurim. "Epidural Anesthesia and Analgesia in Liver Resection." Anesthesia and Analgesia, 95 (November 2002): 1179–1181.

Zhou, G., W. Cai, H. Li, Y, Zhu, and J. J. Fung. "Experiences Relating to Management of Biliary Tract Complications Following Liver Transplantation in 96 Cases." Chinese Medical Journal, 115 (October 2002): 1533–1537.

organizations

American College of Surgeons. 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611-3211. (312) 202-5000. http://www.facs.org .

National Cancer Institute. Suite 3036A, 6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322, Bethesda, MD 20892-8322. (800) 422-6237. http://www.cancer.gov/ .

other

Cancer Information Service [cited July 6, 2003]. http://cis.nci.nih.gov/ .

Liver Cancer Homepage [cited July 6, 2003]. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/types/liver .


Monique Laberge, PhD

WHO PERFORMS THE PROCEDURE AND WHERE IS IT PERFORMED?


A hepactectomy is performed in a hospital setting by a surgeon assisted by a full abdominal surgery team, and possibly an oncologist.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR




Also read article about Hepatectomy from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
mohan
need information about the surgical oncology procedures. about head and neck surgery
2
lookin for answer
I wanna ask about total hepatectomy in case of hepatic cancer or chronic hepatic cirrihosis with portal vien thrombosis .. isn't mean that liver didn't work ?? why can't we remove the liver permanently ????? and give the enzyms IV & bile salts orally ??
isn't better from leaving a tumor to spread ??????

PLZ answer me .. thanx
3
drsupriyo
this is n response to the questions asked by " lookin for answer" total hepatectomy can be performed only when we can transplant a new liver either from a brean dead donor or part of a healthy liver from a related living donor. part of a liver can be removed in selected cases of liver cancer. liver transplantation is an option in some cases of liver tumour and in some cases of cirrhosis.
only providing "enzymes and bile salts" is not feasible bcoz liver performs numerous complex functions inside the body which is not possible to be supplemented externally.
4
Zamri
I'am a chronic hep b patient and have been diagnose with a liver cancer at section 6 of my liver. I was scheduled for surgery in last Feb but i had to postponed it to Apr due to certain personal problems. At that time my tumor sized was 5 x 3 cm. My question is how fast usually the tumor grows and do i need to do a new ct scan before the surgery. Thank you.
5
RAINE
I was diagnosed with cirrhosis(stage 6) and I am in the early stages of liver failure...having all symptoms except for coma. My daughter is a match as donar. I am not getting many answers from my family physician or any of my specialists. Am I eligable for a transplant.I have been misdiagnosed three times and I did not know my daughter was a match she took it upon herself to get checked nad I was informed when the same testing was asked of me.

I would appreciate your input.

Thanks
6
EVELIN DE LA ROCA
HI my mom have a surgery on 8/12/09 she have a liver cancer i believe she had partial hepatectomy so but i want to know how we take care of her. she had a lot a pain in the right side and her back. it is normal after surgery? how many chances she hav to survive? bcause the surgen said in 3 months she need a complete scan to see if everything is ok. she is 68 yrs.old. im her daughter and im very scare because she always healthy. this is the first time she get very sick. thanks
My dad had Liver Cancer, he had this done a U of M. He never bounced back from sugery, He died 14 months later. I know with liver cancer you don't live more then 5 yrs. but to see him go from 205 down to 95 lbs in 14 months was horrific. I miss him so much. You can do chemo for Liver cancer now. Look at other ways of getting rid of the cancer.
8
Ray G
I had a tumor in the duct of the liver and was operated on for 11 hours.The sur)geon cut away 65% of my liver and all went well.Recovering now and putting the weight back on.Huge scar left on my tummy and a lot of pain to go through but it was worth every bit.The whole tumor was removed I and did not need chemo or radio therapy afterwards thank god.
9
Bobbie
I had surgery to remove my right lobe and 10% of my left lobe on August 1 this year. My cancer originated in my rectum and spread to the liver. One year prior in Sept was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer...went through radiation and chemotherapy until May 2012. The surgery was sucessful, however I have felt very weak and tired even though it has been about 7 weeks since the surgery. I also seem to have developed 'puffiness under the scars' is this normal? Is there anything I can do? Can you advise me as to what I can do to regain my energy level? Thank you for your advise. Bobbie
10
Rebecca
Where are the answers to all these questions??
Can I please be directed? Im in the same stage as number 6

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: