LAPAROSCOPIC
LIVER SURGERy

At USC we have used new technology and advanced laparoscopic techniques to develop new laparoscopic operations for pancreas, liver and bile duct diseases. New laparoscopic hand-access devices that allows the surgeon to place his/her hand into the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery and perform many of the different functions with the hand that were previously possible only during open surgery. Dilip Parekh M.D. at USC has utilized this new device to develop laparoscopic surgical procedures such as the Whipple operation, distal pancreatectomy and liver resection.

Benefits of laparoscopic procedures include less post operative discomfort since the incisions are much smaller, quicker recovery times, shorter hospital stays, earlier return to full activities and much smaller scars. Furthermore, there may be less internal scarring when the procedures are performed in a minimally invasive fashion compared to standard open surgery.

The laparoscopic procedures performed on the liver at USC are:

Laparoscopic liver operations performed at USC

• Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors
• Wedge resection of the liver for liver metastasis
• Removal of left half of the left lobe of the liver (left lateral segment)
• Drainage of liver abscess
• hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy, a procedure to inject chemotherapy directly into the liver
• Drainage or removal of liver cysts

Laparoscopic Liver Cyst Drainage

Cysts in the liver are frequently found in normal people. Liver cysts should only be treated if they are causing significant symptoms to the patient. The symptoms found with liver cysts include pain, bleeding into the cysts causing pain, and digestive complaints that are unexplained by other findings. If a liver cyst requires treatment, surgical treatment should include removal of the wall of the cyst.

Removal of the fluid only from the cyst is not recommended since the cyst fills up rapidly after the procedure. Furthermore this procedure puts the patient at risk for infection of the cyst. We offer a laparoscopic approach to patients who require treatment of liver cysts. The procedure involves removing part of the wall of the cyst so that the liquid that is in the cyst can freely drain into the abdominal cavity. The body then removes the liquid from the abdominal cavity.

Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors

Laparoscopic liver resection (removal)

Laparoscopic wedge resection of the liver

Laparoscopic left lateral segment removal

Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy

Contact information: USC Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases
1510 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 1-855-724-7874 dde-mail:PancreasDiseases@surgery.usc.edu
Programs: pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, laparoscopic surgery, endocrine surgery,
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This web site provides select information about pancreatic and biliary disorders and is updated twice monthly. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical consultation with your physician.It is important that you consult with your physician for detailed information about your medical condition and treatment.The center will make every effort to update the site, however, past performance is no guarantee of future medical outcomes.
Copyright © 2002 USC Center for pancreatic and biliary diseases. All rights reserved.