Liver metastasis surgery is used to remove liver metastases. Liver metastases are a symptom of advanced cancer. They occur, for example, in breast, bowel or lung cancer. Surgery is particularly advisable if the liver metastases are rather small and are not located in a vital area of the liver.
Here you will find further information as well as selected specialists and centers for liver metastasis surgery.
A metastasis is a tumor that forms due to the spread of cancer cells from the main tumor to a more distant part of the body. This is referred to as a secondary tumor, while the original tumor is referred to as the primary tumor.
In various cancers, metastases can also develop in the liver. During an operation, the treating surgeon attempts to remove these metastases.
Most patients with liver metastases have a primary tumor
In the case of smaller metastases, the liver still functions normally. The more healthy tissue is destroyed by the tumors, the more likely it is that the organ will fail. Surgery is therefore particularly advisable in the early stages of metastasis.
As liver surgery is a complex procedure, its benefits are carefully weighed up. Oncologists, i.e. cancer specialists, work hand in hand with experts from other fields. These include, for example, general and visceral surgeons.
Liver metastases are tumor metastases from an original tumor in another area of the body © Rasi | AdobeStock
Liver metastasis surgery must be carefully planned. During preparation, the surgeons must determine exactly which tissue is to be removed. Under no circumstances should they remove too much tissue surgically. Otherwise, the liver will no longer be able to supply the body adequately after the operation.
To identify possible risks in advance, the doctors also carry out blood tests and liver function tests.
If the patient's liver is not large enough for immediate surgery, a portal vein ligation/embolization can be performed. This temporarily disrupts the blood supply in certain areas of the liver. The remaining parts of the liver then grow to compensate for the loss of tissue.
This allows doctors to enlarge the healthy parts of the liver before the operation.
The exact course of the operation depends primarily on
of the metastases. As a rule, the operation is performed via an abdominal incision. In some cases, a minimally invasive procedure is also possible. In this case, the surgeon only makes a very small incision and operates using a camera and various special instruments.
Depending on the location of the metastases, parts of the liver are then removed. This is also referred to as a right-sided or left-sided partial liver removal.
After the liver operation, the patient is cared for in the clinic's intensive care unit for a few days and given pain medication.
The liver is an organ that can regenerate very well. If part of the liver is removed, the organ grows so that the new tissue can take over the functions of the removed parts.
It takes a few weeks before the liver is fully functional again. During this period, it must be ensured that the liver function can adequately supply the patient's body.
One complication of liver metastasis surgery is the development of biliary fistulas. Bile leaks out of the operated area. Bleeding or infections can also occur in rare cases.
As a rule, patients can be discharged from hospital 8 to 10 days after liver metastasis surgery.
Immediately after the operation, they are given medication to relieve pain so that they can get moving again as quickly as possible. This means that most patients are able to get up and eat the day after liver metastasis surgery. Nevertheless, liver surgery should not be underestimated. Lifting heavy objects is prohibited for several months.
After the operation, the liver's ability to function is initially limited. For this reason, patients should protect their liver as much as possible after liver metastasis surgery. They should avoid alcohol in any case.
The use of medications that are harmful to the liver should also be urgently restricted. Patients should therefore always consult their doctor before taking any medication.
If the surgeon is able to completely remove the metastases during liver metastasis surgery, the prognosis is good.
However, it always depends on how advanced the primary tumor is. If the operation is successful and there is still sufficient liver tissue to supply the body, the chances of survival for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases are around 50 percent.
Surgery is not the only treatment method for liver metastases. So-called systemic procedures act not only locally on the liver, but throughout the entire body. Chemotherapy is one of these procedures. Patients receive medication (cytostatics) to stop or slow down the proliferation of tumor cells.
Another local therapy for liver metastases is radiotherapy. Here, the cancer cells are destroyed using particle or ionizing radiation. Radiotherapy can also be useful before liver metastasis surgery in order to initially shrink very large metastases.
Liver metastasis surgery is mainly performed for small and single metastases in the liver. It can be performed as the sole therapeutic measure or to supplement other cancer treatment procedures.
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