Liver Resection and Implantation of Infusion Pump

Liver Resection

Liver resection is the gold standard treatment for most patients with primary and metastatic hepatic tumors. In the past this used to be a formidable surgical procedure with high post-operative morbidity and mortality. However, increased knowledge of liver segmental anatomy combined with technological advances and improved anesthesia/critical care have markedly decreased the risk and made this a potentially curative option for many patients.

	Liver Resection

The application of intraoperative ultrasound gives the surgeon detailed real-time information to facilitate the resection and achieve negative margins while decreasing blood loss. New devices to transect the liver parenchyma have made the procedure safer. At Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center we are currently in the process of developing minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques to remove liver tumors with the potential to speed recovery and shorten hospital stay with similar oncologic outcomes.

Liver Resection

Wake Forest Baptist has an active program of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion therapy for patients with hepatic colorectal metastases after resection or ablation of their tumors. This method of delivery produces a higher concentration of chemotherapy in the remnant liver, which is at risk for recurrence, while minimizing systemic toxicity. The chemotherapy is delivered via an implantable hepatic pump placed at the time of liver resection or ablation.

	Liver Resection

We are in collaboration with other centers studying the combination of hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with new systemic agents which are actively accruing patients. This multimodality approach has the potential to improve the overall and disease-free survival of patients with hepatic colorectal metastases.