Digestive Disorders Health Center
Liver resection
Liver resection is the surgical removal of part of the
liver 
. This operation is for some types of liver
cancer and for certain cases of
metastatic colorectal cancer. Up to half of your liver
can be removed as long as the rest is healthy.
During a liver resection, the part of your liver that contains cancer is removed, along with some healthy liver tissue on either side. If the right side of your liver is removed, your gallbladder, which is attached to the liver, is also taken out.
What To Expect After Surgery
Liver resection requires general anesthesia. The operation can take 2 to 5 hours. A blood transfusion is not usually needed for this operation. You may stay in the hospital for 5 to 7 days or as long as 2 weeks after surgery.
Follow-up care is needed because of the possibility that colorectal cancer will return, even if the surgery was successful. Treatment following liver resection may include chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
Why It Is Done
Liver resection is used to treat colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. Removing the cancer from the liver helps to keep it from spreading farther. This operation is unlikely to cure metastatic colorectal cancer, but it can help you live longer.
How Well It Works
Liver resection successfully removes areas of metastatic colorectal cancer from the liver. However, because the cancer has traveled to the liver from another site, this surgery does not cure colorectal cancer.
Risks
Possible complications after a liver resection include:
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Scar tissue from the surgery.
What To Think About
While a liver resection may help you live longer, it is unlikely to cure the disease.
It may not be a good choice if you have areas of metastatic colorectal cancer in both lobes of your liver or if you have metastatic disease in other parts of your body.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be needed after a liver resection.
Complete the surgery information form (PDF)
(What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Important Safety Information
- KAPIDEX may not be right for everyone. You should not take KAPIDEX if you are allergic to KAPIDEX or any of its ingredients. Severe allergic reactions have been reported.
- Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
- The most common side effects of KAPIDEX were diarrhea (4.8%), stomach pain (4.0%), nausea (2.9%), common cold (1.9%), vomiting (1.6%), and gas (1.6%). KAPIDEX and certain other medicines can affect each other. Before taking KAPIDEX, tell your doctor if you are taking ampicillin, atazanavir, digoxin, iron, ketoconazole, or tacrolimus. If you are taking KAPIDEX with warfarin, you may need to be monitored because serious risks could occur.
Uses of KAPIDEX
- Persistent heartburn two or more days a week, despite treatment and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (ARD). Prescription KAPIDEX capsules are used in adults to treat heartburn related to ARD, to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called erosive esophagitis or EE), and to stop EE from coming back. Individual results may vary. Most damage (erosions) heals in 4–8 weeks.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. Please see full Prescribing Information for KAPIDEX.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
KAPIDEX™ is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
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