Hepatectomy surgery: a patient guide

The liver can sometimes continue working after a section is removed, but the safe extent differs between people. Surgeons review scans, blood tests and the condition of the remaining liver before recommending an operation. The plan may address a primary liver tumour or cancer that has spread to the liver.

An operation can be open or minimally invasive. It may remove a small wedge, a larger section or tissue close to bile ducts and blood vessels. Tumour ablation may be considered when resection is not the chosen local treatment.

Share your full medicine list, including supplements, and mention alcohol use, jaundice, bleeding problems or previous operations. Prepare for a hospital stay and arrange practical help at home. Afterward, expect a staged return to food and movement, incision care and blood tests.

Attend follow-up so the pathology findings and next steps can be explained. Depending on the diagnosis, care may involve treatment for liver cancer, bowel cancer or liver metastases. The liver resection page offers a focused overview of the surgical treatment.

Get urgent medical advice after surgery for severe or increasing abdominal pain, fever, fainting, heavy bleeding, repeated vomiting, confusion, yellowing of the skin or eyes, chest pain or difficulty breathing. Worsening wound redness, swelling or discharge also needs prompt review.

Ask what the surgery aims to achieve, how much liver will remain, whether another local treatment is possible, and which complications need immediate attention. Confirm the recovery milestones, pathology follow-up and how the team will coordinate any additional cancer treatment.