The liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate itself and this makes it possible to intervene in this organ, extracting it in portions with safety for the patient and an excellent quality of postoperative life. Up to 70% of the total volume can be withdrawn with limited risk.
The liver has anatomical subdivisions that allow resection of the liver without compromising its function; Based on the number, location, and size of the neoplasms identified in the preoperative phase, the type of intervention to be performed is defined.
The most common types of liver resection are:
- Right or left hepatectomy : they consist of the removal of the entire right lobe of the liver (segments 5, 6, 7 and 8) or the entire left lobe (2-3-4). It represents the main major surgery.
- Left lateral sectorectomy : commonly called a "left lobectomy" as it involves the removal of the left anatomical lobe. It is the most frequently performed intervention with minimally invasive techniques.
- Segmentectomy : Anatomical removal of only one of the 9 segments into which the liver is divided.
- "Wedge" resections or "wedge" resections: are all those resections that do not follow the anatomical division of the liver and that involve the removal of a part of the liver that extends less than one segment.
In some cases, resection and reconstruction of the large vessels (arterial or venous) that carry blood to the liver is necessary; these methods are necessary in selected cases and this leads to an increase in the complexity of the surgical procedure and possible complications.