Liver resections: complications and survival outcome.
Today, liver resection represents one of the most effective therapies in the treatment of defined liver diseases, particularly for hepatocellular carcinomas, liver metastases and tumors originating from the bile ducts. There have been a number of improvements in the technique but the use of kellyclasia associated with meticulous control of hemostasis and biliostasis appears to be more effective and efficient. The procedure is still burdened with some postoperative complications, the more characteristic of which are liver insufficiency, biliary leakage and ascites. Several neoplastic diseases, both primitive and secondary, can benefit from this therapy with substantial improvement of long-term survival, and a notable change in the natural history of the disease. For these situations, a consultation should always be performed by a surgeon experienced in hepatic surgery.
Grazi
Gian Luca
GL
Associate Professor of General Surgery, University of Bologna, Liver & Multi Organ Transplant Unit, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. glgrazi@unibo.it; www.liversurgery.info.