What should you know about central hepatectomy?

It is a type of liver resection chosen for selected centrally located tumours. The operation is technically demanding because surgeons work near major blood vessels and bile ducts, but its tissue-preserving design may be useful when removing an entire side of the liver is undesirable.

Detailed scans show the tumour's relationship to the right and left blood supply, hepatic veins and bile drainage. The team estimates whether the remaining liver portions will have adequate inflow, outflow and drainage after the central tissue is removed.

Central hepatectomy may be considered for a primary liver tumour or a tumour that has spread to the liver, including selected liver metastases from bowel cancer. Suitability depends on location, number of lesions, liver condition, other illness and whether a clear surgical margin appears achievable.

Before surgery, tell the team about blood-thinning medicines, supplements, previous abdominal operations and any liver disease. Follow the hospital's instructions on eating, drinking and medicine adjustments. Breathing exercises and early supported walking commonly form part of recovery.

After discharge, protect the wound, increase activity gradually and use pain relief as prescribed. Keep follow-up appointments for wound review, liver blood tests and the final pathology discussion. The pathology report clarifies the tumour type and surgical margins and helps shape any further care.

Contact the surgical team urgently for fever, worsening abdominal pain or swelling, increasing wound redness, pus, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, persistent vomiting, breathlessness or new confusion. Sudden chest pain, collapse, coughing blood or severe breathing difficulty requires emergency care.

Fluid leaking from a wound or drain, fresh bleeding, or a drain that suddenly changes or stops should be reported using the hospital's surgical contact pathway.

Which liver segments will be removed, how much healthy liver will remain, and are nearby vessels or ducts involved? Ask whether ablation might be combined with resection, how the operation could affect bile drainage and what support will be needed at home.