Liver resections in Auckland; a retrospective review of patients 1986-91.
OBJECTIVE
At a time of subspecialisation throughout medical practice we were interested to review the local experience with regards to elective liver resection.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing elective liver resection in the Auckland region was performed for the period 1986-91.


RESULTS
Over this 6 year period, 30 liver resections were performed, by no less than eight general surgeons. We found little standardisation in either the preoperative work up or the performance of surgery. By international standards a high proportion of patients sustained major complications resulting in long hospital stays.


CONCLUSIONS
We would suggest that such cases should be referred to one or two surgeons working in a team, together with interested radiologists, anaesthetists and oncologists. Only in this way will experience be concentrated; standard protocols be defined; new modalities, eg, intraoperative ultrasound, ultrasonic liver dissection be employed, and postoperative morbidity be reduced. This type of practice should prove to be cost-effective.
Meyer
D
D
University of Auckland School of Medicine.
Christie
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies