Why is this procedure done?
This is done to remove a part of your liver. Your doctor may do this surgery to treat cancer if you have tumors in your liver. You may also need chemo and radiation. ‚
There are 3 ways of doing this procedure: ‚
- Open surgery ¢ ˆ ’ The doctor uses open surgery if the part of your liver that is not healthy is near big blood vessels or is hard to reach. You will have a longer healing process.
- Laparoscopic surgery ¢ ˆ ’ The doctor will make smaller cuts in the belly. The doctor uses small tools to help remove the unhealthy part of your liver. Your healing time is shorter than an open surgery.
- Robotic surgery ¢ ˆ ’ The doctor uses the help of the robot to remove the part of your liver that is not healthy. Your healing time is shorter than an open surgery.
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What will the results be?
The doctor will take out the parts of your liver that are not healthy or cancer. Your liver can grow back to its normal size in a few months. ‚
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor will take your history. Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin, ibuprofen, Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
- When you need to stop eating or drinking before your procedure.
- Your doctor will do an exam and may order tests like:
- You may have chemo for a while before your surgery. This may help shrink the size of a tumor in your liver.
- You will not be allowed to drive right away after the procedure. Ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
What happens during the procedure?
- Once you are in the operating room, you will be given a drug to make you sleepy. It will also help you stay pain free during the surgery.
- When you are asleep, the doctor puts a tube in your mouth to help you breathe. The doctor places another small tube in your nose, which goes down to your stomach to drain out any food or fluid that might come out during surgery. You will have a tube in your bladder to drain urine.
- Your doctor will decide the best way to do your surgery. You may have:
- Open surgery ¢ ˆ ’ Your doctor will make a cut through your belly on the right side. This way, the doctor will be able to look at and hold your liver. The part of the liver that is not healthy will be cut out. Your gallbladder may be taken out too.
- Laparoscopic surgery ¢ ˆ ’ Your doctor will make 3 to 4 small cuts in your belly. A scope with a tiny camera is put through one of the small cuts to look at the liver. Your doctor will put small surgical tools into the holes to do the procedure. The part of the liver that is not healthy will be cut out.
- Robotic surgery ¢ ˆ ’ Your doctor will make 3 to 4 small cuts in the area for surgery. Your doctor may put gas in your belly to expand it. A scope with a tiny camera is put through one of the small cuts. Your doctor will put small surgical tools into other holes to do the procedure. All the tools will be joined to one of the robotic arms. This will let the robot grasp, cut, dissect, and sew. Your doctor will sit at a computer while viewing the pictures on the screen. Your doctor will use a joystick-like hand control and a foot pedal to help guide the tools. Another doctor will stay next to you to move the tools if needed. Your doctor will guide the robot to do the surgery. After the procedure, the tools will be removed.
- Sometimes during laparoscopic or robotic surgery, the doctor needs to do an open procedure for bleeding or if the doctor cannot remove the tumor with the laparoscope.
- The doctor finishes and will either put stitches or staples along the cut. Your belly will be covered with a bandage. The surgery may take several hours.
What happens after the procedure?
You will go to the ICU after surgery. The staff will take out your breathing tube when you are awake and strong enough to breathe. You may have a sore throat afterwards. You will keep the tube in your nose for a few days. It will come out when the doctor starts to hear gurgling sounds from your belly. Then, you will be able to start drinking clear liquids. The staff will take out the tube draining your urine from your bladder in a few days. ‚
Within a day or two, you will get out of bed to a chair. The staff will help you begin to walk around. Doing coughing and deep breathing exercises will help keep your lungs clear. You will get drugs to help with your pain. You will move out of the ICU and to another part of the hospital as you get better. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, and sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity for a while. Ask your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Cancer may come back
- Bowel blockage or obstruction
- Build up of belly fluid, called ascites
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Sudden shortness of breath or a sudden onset of chest pain could be a sign that a blood clot has traveled to your lungs. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Very bad pain
- Blood in your urine or urine becomes dark in color
- Feeling weak
- Belly gets swollen
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Where can I learn more?
American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/LiverCancer/DetailedGuide/liver-cancer-treating-surgery ‚
American Liver Foundation ‚
http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/livercancer/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚