Do you need a referral for liver resection?

Liver resection, or hepatectomy, removes part of the liver containing a tumour or other affected tissue. A specialist team reviews where the lesion sits, its relationship to blood vessels and bile ducts, whether disease is present elsewhere, how much functioning liver would remain, and whether other treatment should come before or after surgery. Receiving a referral means the case can be assessed; it does not establish that an operation is suitable.

Ask the proposed liver surgery service what it needs for an appointment. Your oncologist, gastroenterologist, primary care clinician, or another treating specialist may send the referral. Arrange transfer of recent scan reports and image files, pathology findings, blood test results, treatment summaries, current medicines, and details of previous abdominal operations. Mention liver disease, blood-thinning medicines, diabetes, or heart and lung conditions because these can influence assessment and preparation.

Seek prompt medical assessment for rapidly worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, new marked abdominal swelling, yellowing accompanied by fever or confusion, vomiting blood, black stools, heavy bleeding, or sudden breathing difficulty. After liver surgery, use the team's urgent contact instructions for increasing pain, fever, wound drainage, worsening jaundice, inability to drink, or new shortness of breath. Emergency symptoms should be treated immediately rather than waiting for a referral visit.

Ask what the operation aims to remove, how the remaining liver has been assessed, whether another treatment is planned, and which surgical approach is being considered. Clarify medicine changes, nutrition and activity before surgery, expected monitoring afterwards, and the exact symptoms that should prompt urgent contact after discharge.