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Liver Cancer Surgery

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Liver Cancer Surgery

Liver Cancer Surgery in Singapore

Liver cancer surgery, also known as liver resection or hepatectomy, is one of the most common treatment options for liver cancer. It involves removing a portion of the liver to eliminate cancerous cells, allowing the liver to regenerate.

Is Liver Cancer Surgery Right for You?

The general principle behind liver cancer surgery is to treat and eliminate cancer from the liver. Therefore, the surgery is not likely to be effective for patients at advanced stages of liver cancer. This is mainly because liver cancer can spread out to other tissues of the liver, in addition to other organs, which can make liver surgery challenging in such cases.

When to Consider Liver Cancer Surgery?

In addition to the extent of the disease, the health status of the patient’s liver has to be taken into account. In the case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, this includes several issues that may affect liver functions, such as liver cirrhosis. Therefore, the liver cancer surgeon will have to assess your liver condition in order to estimate whether the liver will be able to perform its vital functions after the cancerous parts are removed.

Treatment for liver cancer largely depends on the stage of the condition, which is best determined by an experienced liver doctor. In the case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, the condition is categorised into four stages, which are:

  • Stage 1A single tumour is found in or on the liver.
  • Stage 2A single tumour has grown into the blood vessels or there are multiple tumours in the organ, all smaller than 5cm.
  • Stage 3There are multiple tumours bigger than 5cm, or the cancer has grown into a major blood vessel, or grown into a nearby organ or outer covering of the liver.
  • Stage 4The liver cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, or metastasised and spread to other body parts.

Take Control of Your Liver Health

Our specialists Dr Victor Lee and Dr Tan Ek Khoon, offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for liver cancer to achieve optimal outcomes.

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How Is Liver Cancer Treated?

Diagnostic tools and imaging tests are often ordered first by the liver cancer surgeon to determine the number, size, location and spread of the cancer. Once the staging tests are done, a treatment plan tailored to the patient will be determined. Types of liver cancer surgery include:

  • Hepatectomy In the earliest stages, if the tumour is small and affects only a small portion of the liver, part of the organ can be surgically removed. Hepatectomy is only for patients with a healthy and fully functioning liver. For those with cirrhosis, or whose cancer has spread extensively in the organ, this is not an option due to the heightened risk of excessive bleeding and infections. This operation can be performed by laparoscopy or by open technique.

    Hepatectomy surgery typically lasts 3 to 6 hours. However, the duration can vary depending on the size and location of the tumour, the amount of liver tissue being removed, and whether the surgery is performed via laparoscopic (minimally invasive) or open technique.
  • Liver Transplant This involves the removal of the diseased liver and replacing it with a healthy one from a living or deceased donor. This is ideal for those who have a tumour smaller than 5cm, or multiple tumours no bigger than 3cm. It is not suitable for those in advanced stages, as the cancer may have already spread beyond the liver.

    Alternatively, when cancer has reached its final, incurable stage, treatment options will deal more with alleviating symptoms and slowing the growth of the tumour. These include radiation and drug therapies, palliative care, and clinical trials. A liver cancer surgeon can help determine the most appropriate treatment based on the patient’s symptoms and overall health.

    A liver transplant surgery typically lasts 6 to 12 hours. Similar to a hepatectomy, the duration depends on the complexity of the surgery, the patient’s overall health, and any complications during the operation.

How Is Liver Cancer Surgery Performed?

Generally, there are 2 options for liver cancer surgery, including open surgery and laparoscopy surgery.

  • Open Surgery Open surgery aims at removing liver tumours and cysts by making a large cut (known as the Chevron incision) around the abdominal area, which is about 15 to 18 inches in length.
  • Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic/Robotic) Surgery Minimally-invasive or Keyhole surgery is a favoured option whenever feasible, avoiding large cuts in the abdomen. This can be performed laparoscopically or robotically. Minimally-invasive liver surgery is especially useful for removing liver tumours and cysts on the liver surface and left lateral section (lateral sectionectomy). Minimally-invasive liver surgery may also be performed alongside 2 other procedures. These are:

    • Radiofrequency Ablation For multiple small liver tumours, radiofrequency ablation can be used through which an electrical current is used to kill cancer cells. The clinical results are similar to surgical resection for tumours smaller than 3 cm.
    • Microwave Ablation This utilises microwave energy for tumour ablation. The advantages compared to radiofrequency ablation are that larger tumours can be ablated (up to 6 cm), it is a quicker procedure and it can be used for tumours located next to major blood vessels (no heat sink effect).

What Is Recovery Like After Liver Cancer Surgery?

After undergoing liver cancer surgery, the remaining parts of the liver are normally able to regenerate and should function properly. Depending on how much of the liver was removed during liver cancer surgery, patients may experience different recovery times and complications. Patients with liver cirrhosis may be at risk of liver failure after surgery if there is poor residual liver function before surgery. Also, liver cancer recurrence can also occur.

It is also crucial to take note of potential complications and side effects associated with liver cancer surgery, such as:

Bleeding Since the liver has a rich blood supply, bleeding is a common concern during and after surgery. While surgeons take measures to minimise this, excessive bleeding can sometimes occur.

Infections As with any major surgery, there is a risk of infections at the surgical site or in other body areas. Proper wound care and monitoring are important to prevent or manage infections.

Bile Leaks After part of the liver is removed, there is a risk that bile (a digestive fluid) may leak into the abdominal cavity, leading to pain, infection, or requiring further intervention.

Liver Failure For patients with pre-existing liver disease, such as cirrhosis, there is an increased risk of liver failure after surgery. This occurs if the remaining liver tissue is unable to function properly.

Blood Clots Post-surgical immobility can sometimes increase the risk of developing blood clots, particularly in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Get Started on Personalised Liver Cancer Treatment Today

Our clinic specialises in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, providing personalised care that meets your unique needs.

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6 Napier Road, #10-01, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore 258499

Tel: +65 6475 1488
Fax: +65 6475 1489
Email: info@liversurgery.com

Opening Hours Mon – Fri: 9am to 5pm
Sat: 9am to 12pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays

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