Hepatobiliary Surgery

Specifically, along with other subspecialties (interventional radiology, radiotherapy, oncology and hepatology), it manages the following conditions:

• Primary malignant neoplasms of the liver, such as hepatoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, even on cirrhotic areas.
• Primary malignant neoplasms of the biliary tract (Klatskin tumor/cholangiocarcinoma, intrapancreatic cholangiocarcinoma).
• Metastatic liver disease (hepatic metastases) from colon cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, etc.
• Benign liver tumors, such as hepatocellular adenoma, hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, etc.
• Benign conditions of the biliary tract, such as benign stenoses, bile duct injuries, etc.

Apart from conventional hepatectomy, other minimally invasive thermal tumor ablation techniques are also used to treat liver metastases. These include radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA), which cause necrosis of the metastases, keeping the adjoining liver intact. They may be performed without surgery (percutaneously), laparoscopically, but also during surgery, in combination with the removal of other tumors.

The Department also implements all the latest laparoscopic techniques, such as laparoscopic hepatectomy and simultaneous colectomy and hepatectomy, which treats colon cancer and liver metastases at the same time. Some of the benefits of these methods include small incisions, minimum postoperative pain, fast recovery and lower complication rates, especially in simultaneous colectomy and hepatectomy, which is not the case when the procedures are performed at different times.

In addition, the Department activities include treatment for benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas, duodenum and retroperitoneal space.

The research activities of the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department focus on clinical studies on the following topics:

• Analysis of survival rates following hepatectomy in patients with extensive metastatic liver disease.
• Analysis of the effectiveness in the application of RFA and MWA in patients with primary and metastatic liver disease.
• Use of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Application of fast-track protocol in patients that have undergone hepatectomy.
• Use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.