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Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Liver Resection

Liver Resection

Surgery Overview

Liver resection is surgery to remove a piece of the liver. Up to one-half of your liver can be removed if the rest of it is healthy. The doctor makes a cut (incision) in your belly to take out part of the liver. If the doctor removes the right side of your liver, your gallbladder will also be removed.

Liver resection requires general anesthesia. The surgery can take 2 to 5 hours.

You will probably stay in the hospital for about a week after surgery. You will need to take it easy for 4 to 8 weeks at home.

What To Expect

What To Expect

Follow-up care is needed because of the chance that cancer will return, even if the surgery was successful. Treatment after liver resection may include chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

 Why It Is Done

Why It Is Done

Liver resection is most often used to treat liver cancer or other cancer that has spread to the liver. Removing the cancer from the liver helps to keep it from spreading farther. Sometimes a liver resection removes all the cancer. But even when this surgery can't remove all the cancer from the liver, it usually helps people live longer.

Liver resection may also be done for cysts or abscesses or because of injury to the liver.

 How Well It Works

How Well It Works

Liver resection increases a person's chances of living longer. A person's long-term survival depends on many things, including how much of the liver was removed, the person's overall health, and any other treatments that are needed.

 Risks

Risks

Complications after liver resection may be higher in people with ongoing liver problems such as cirrhosis. Possible complications include:

  • Infection.
  • Bile leaking through the drain.
  • Bleeding.
  • Ascites in the belly.
  • Scar tissue from the surgery.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

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