Surgery Overview
Liver resection is the surgical removal of part of the
liver 
. This operation is for some types of liver
cancer and for certain cases of
metastatic colorectal cancer. Up to half of your liver
can be removed as long as the rest is healthy.
During a liver resection, the part of your liver that contains
cancer is removed, along with some healthy liver tissue on either side. If the
right side of your liver is removed, your
gallbladder, which is attached to the liver, is also
taken out.
What To Expect After Surgery
Liver resection requires
general anesthesia. The operation can take 2 to 5
hours. A
blood transfusion is not usually needed for this
operation. You may stay in the hospital for 5 to 7 days or as long as 2 weeks
after surgery.
Follow-up care is needed because of the possibility that colorectal
cancer will return, even if the surgery was successful. Treatment following
liver resection may include
chemotherapy or
radiation treatments.
Why It Is Done
Liver resection is used to treat colorectal cancer that has spread
to the liver. Removing the cancer from the liver helps to keep it from
spreading farther. This operation is unlikely to cure metastatic colorectal
cancer, but it can help you live longer.
How Well It Works
Liver resection successfully removes areas of metastatic colorectal
cancer from the liver. However, because the cancer has traveled to the liver
from another site, this surgery does not cure colorectal cancer.
Risks
Possible complications after a liver resection include:
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Scar tissue
from the surgery.
What To Think About
While a liver resection may help you live longer, it is unlikely to
cure the disease.
It may not be a good choice if you have areas of metastatic
colorectal cancer in both lobes of your liver or if you have metastatic disease
in other parts of your body.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be needed after a liver
resection.
Complete the surgery information form (PDF) 
(What is a PDF document?)
to help you prepare for this surgery.
Credits
| Author | Bets Davis, MFA |
| Editor | Maria Essig |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology |
| Last Updated | October 1, 2008 |
