Liver Cancer Surgery
Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the most common type of liver cancer. Most often, doctors diagnose it at an advanced stage, so they find early detection and treatment critical. They consider surgical intervention one of the most effective methods of treatment when the tumor is localized. Let us explore the steps of liver cancer surgery, their procedure, its benefits and costs, recovery and some risks, plus the best medical centers in India for liver cancer treatment.
what is Liver Cancer Surgery?
Liver Cancer Surgery is generally the removal of cancerous liver tissue. It is typically performed when the cancer is only confined to a single area of the liver and does not spread into other organs. The surgery would aim to take out the tumor, reduce the risk of a recurrence of cancer, and, in turn, improve the patient’s overall survival rate. This depends on the size, location, and even stage of cancer; it could be the removal of part of the liver or the entire organ for advanced cases.
Why is Liver Cancer Surgery?
Surgeons perform liver cancer surgery for the following reasons:
- Removing cancerous tissue: The most important reason for liver cancer surgery is to remove the tumor and possibly the surrounding tissue that may harbor cancer cells.
- To enhance the survival rate: Surgery is often the best treatment for localized liver cancer and significantly improves the survival rate, especially when combined with other treatments like chemotherapy or liver transplantation.
- Restore the function of the liver: In some cases, surgery can restore normal liver function by removing tumors without damaging too much of the healthy liver tissue.
Types of Liver Cancer Surgery
The type of surgical procedure for liver cancer depends on the size, location, and health status of the patient. It may involve one or more of the following types of surgery:
- Partial Hepatectomy
Partial hepatectomy is the surgical removal of a part of the liver containing the tumor while maintaining the rest of the healthy liver tissue.
- Procedure: The surgeon removes the tumor and the surrounding liver tissue. If doctors find that the cancer is small and localized to a specific area, they only remove part of the liver.
- Indication: When the cancer is localized to one part of the liver and the remaining liver tissue can still function properly, surgeons perform a partial hepatectomy.
- Liver Transplantation
Liver transplantation is the replacement of the patient’s diseased liver with a healthy liver from a donor.
- Procedure: The physician resects all of the patient’s liver and then replaces it with a healthy organ. This kind of surgery occurs if the neoplasm or cancer is isolated in the patient’s liver. However, that person has heavy liver damage known as cirrhosis, meaning their liver performs inadequately.
- Indication: Liver transplants treat patients affected by advanced or late-stage disease or cirrhosis who develop localized liver malignancies.
- Laparoscopic or Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery
Laparoscopic liver surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves making several small incisions to remove the tumor.
- Procedure: A camera is introduced through a small incision, and the surgeon removes the tumor with the help of specialized instruments. This method will leave the patient with minimal scars and quick recovery compared to the open surgical approach.
- Indication: Surgeons usually employ laparoscopic surgery to access the smaller tumors, which are localized to one portion of the liver.
Procedure Steps
The basic steps involved in liver cancer surgery are:
- Anesthesia: The medical team places the patient under general anesthesia to prevent the feeling of pain and being conscious during the procedure.
- Incision: An incision is made on the abdomen by the surgeon to be able to access the liver. A minimally invasive surgery, however, makes small incisions.
- Tumor Removal: The surgeon carefully removes the tumor and any surrounding tissue that may be affected by the cancer. In the case of liver transplantation, the medical team completely removes the diseased liver.
- Closure: After the surgeon removes the tumor, he or she may reconnect blood vessels and bile ducts if necessary, and the surgeon closes the incisions with sutures.
Benefits of Liver Cancer Surgery
Liver cancer surgery provides several key benefits:
The potential for cure can be achieved in early-stage liver cancer through the removal of the tumor.
- Improved survival rate: Success rates among surgical treatments, particularly when combined with other treatments, improve chances of survival among patients with localized liver cancer.
- Restoration of function in the liver: When a surgeon removes only a part of the liver, the remaining liver often regenerates and serves its purpose.
- Improved quality of life: Surgical resection of the cancer often relieves symptoms such as pain, jaundice, and fatigue, thus improving the quality of life of the patient.
Cost of Liver Cancer Surgery
- United States: Partial hepatectomy costs range between $30,000 and $50,000. Transplantation of the liver ranges from $150,000 to $250,000. Minimally invasive surgery of the liver can cost between $40,000 and $60,000.
- United Kingdom: Partial hepatectomy regarding liver cancer surgery costs between $20,000 and $40,000, and transplantation of the liver can cost between $100,000 and $200,000.
- India: The cost of liver cancer surgery in India is between $5,000 and $30,000, making it relatively much cheaper than in the U.S. or the U.K.
Top Hospitals in India for Liver Cancer Surgery
India has some of the top hospitals dedicated to liver cancer treatment, with high-end facilities and advanced treatments. Some of the top hospitals are:
- Metro Hospital Faridabad
- Medanta—The Medicity—Gurgaon
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi NCR
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
Complications and Risks
Liver cancer surgery, like other major surgeries, has some complications and risks involved:
- Infection: The surgical team might cause the area to become infected and require antibiotics or further treatment.
- Bleeding: Surgeons can encounter heavy bleeding during liver surgery, especially if they have to remove large parts of the liver.
- Bile leak: The bile ducts may become damaged during surgery leading to complications of a bile leak.
- Liver failure: The liver does not regenerate, or the part removed is too big, thus leading to liver failure.
- Rejection (in case of transplantation): The body rejects a transplanted liver, and the use of immunosuppressive medications would be necessary for this reason.
Recovery
Recovery after surgery for liver cancer depends on the type and complexity of the procedure.
- Hospital Stay: After liver surgery, the patient generally stays in the hospital for a period of 7 to 14 days based on the individual’s condition and the nature of the surgery.
- Early Recovery: Recovery from a partial hepatectomy or laparoscopic surgery usually occurs within 4-6 weeks, whereas it may take a few months after liver transplantation.
- Long-term Recovery: Patients would have to periodically follow up with their healthcare provider to monitor the liver function and any signs of recurrence. Transplant patients also have to stay on immunosuppressive medication for the rest of their lives to prevent rejection of the organs.
