Many patients are concerned about whether they will be able to maintain their original normal function after partial liver resection.
The liver is a powerfully regenerative organ
The liver is a powerful regenerative organ. Under normal circumstances, liver cells rarely divide and proliferate.
When the liver is damaged from various causes (e.g., surgical resection), the liver is able to show a strong regenerative capacity.
A safe extent of resection can maintain liver function
The volume of the remaining liver after surgery should meet the following criteria:
- Usually, to prevent postoperative liver failure due to insufficient residual liver, the postoperative residual liver volume should be at least 25% of the standard liver volume;
- For patients with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis, the postoperative residual liver volume should be at least 30% of the standard liver volume;
- For patients with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis, the postoperative residual liver volume should be at least 30% of the standard liver volume
- For patients with cirrhosis without portal hypertension, the postoperative residual liver volume should be at least 40% of the standard liver volume.
Before surgery, the surgeon will accurately assess the extent of liver disease, predict the remaining liver volume and compensatory function, and determine the necessary and safe extent of liver resection based on anatomic and functional imaging results, which will be accurately performed during surgery.
Postoperatively, hepatocytes in the remaining liver are able to proliferate and undergo functional compensation, thereby continuing to maintain normal liver function.