Anatomical liver resection explained

The operation follows the liver’s internal segment boundaries. This differs from a non-anatomical or wedge resection, which removes the tumour with a surrounding margin without taking an entire defined segment.

Liver segments have their own branches of the portal vein, hepatic artery and bile ducts. Removing tissue along these boundaries can allow a surgeon to control those structures deliberately and remove disease distributed within a particular segment.

Anatomical resection may be considered for primary liver cancer or selected tumours that have spread to the liver, including some from bowel cancer. The decision depends on tumour position, its relationship to major vessels, liver function, the amount and location of healthy liver that would remain, and the person’s general fitness. Tumour ablation or another resection pattern may suit a different anatomy.

Before surgery, the team reviews detailed scans and blood tests and may assess how well the future liver remnant is expected to function. Give the surgical team a complete list of medicines and supplements, and follow their instructions about fasting and medicines that affect bleeding.

After the operation, pain control, breathing exercises and gradual movement support recovery. Staff monitor liver function, bleeding, infection and bile leakage. At home, follow wound-care and activity advice, eat as tolerated, and avoid driving or lifting until the surgical team says these are appropriate.

Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or heavy bleeding. Contact the surgical team promptly for fever, worsening abdominal pain or swelling, repeated vomiting, increasing wound redness or discharge, yellowing of the skin or eyes, confusion, very dark urine, or pale stools. Use the discharge contact route even if you are unsure whether a change is expected.

Ask which segments are planned for removal, whether the operation will be open or minimally invasive, and how much healthy liver is expected to remain. Other useful topics include possible changes to the plan during surgery, the role of ablation, the expected hospital course, pathology results and whether further cancer treatment may follow.