Elective resection of the liver: nursing care

Until recently, surgical resection of the liver was done mainly for benign or traumatic conditions. Liver resections are now an accepted treatment for primary and some metastatic cancers of the liver. Nurses play an important role in the management of all liver resection patients and need to have an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the liver, the tests performed during the preoperative period, the surgery performed, and the physiologic and psychologic responses of the patients during the postoperative period.