Adequate symptom relief justifies hepatic resection for benign disease

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Benign liver lesions are common and can cause significant symptoms.
• Surgical intervention, such as partial liver resection, is sometimes necessary for diagnosis and treatment.
• Long-term outcomes of these procedures are important for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term results of partial liver resection for benign liver lesions.
• To assess symptom relief and patient satisfaction after surgery.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of partial liver resection in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study including patients operated on for benign liver lesions between 1991 and 2002.
• Data collected from medical records, hospital registration system, and telephone questionnaires.
• Follow-up duration ranged from 4 to 150 months (median 55 months).

Main Results:

• Twenty-eight patients underwent partial liver resection for various benign lesions (hemangioma, FNH, HCA, angiomyolipoma).
• Morbidity rate was 25% with no postoperative mortality.
• Eighty-nine percent of patients experienced decreased or resolved preoperative symptoms, primarily abdominal pain.

Conclusions:

• Partial liver resection for benign liver lesions provides considerable long-term symptom relief and patient satisfaction.
• These favorable outcomes justify the consideration of major surgery, despite associated risks.
• Careful patient selection and surgical indication are crucial for optimal results.