Changing trends in hepatic resection for malignant liver tumours

The records of 57 patients who underwent 65 liver resections for malignant tumours were reviewed. All patients were treated from August 1989 to November 1992 at the Hammersmith Hospital. The type of resections performed were: 13 extended right hepatectomies, 12 right hepatectomies, 12 left hepatectomies, 1 extended left hepatectomy, 7 unisegmentectomies, 10 bisegmentectomies, 3 trisegmentectomies and 3 non-anatomical resections. Operative mortality was 1.5% (1 patient). Repeated liver resections for tumour recurrence were performed in 6 patients with satisfactory early results. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 19.7 +/- 14.2 days. Improvements in operative results have led to relaxation of resectability criteria. A policy of liver resection for "early" tumours for cure has been extended to "advanced" lesions for symptoms palliation. Liver resection still remains a major operation but has become a routine safe surgical procedure.