Hepatobiliary

Liver resection (hepatectomy) removes part of the liver to treat primary liver cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cancers that have spread to the liver from the bowel, bile duct cancers and troublesome cysts. The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate after surgery.

The pancreas is a gland that sits behind the stomach and produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin. Pancreas surgery is used to treat pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cysts and neuroendocrine tumours, and is among the most specialised operations in abdominal surgery.

The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver. Gallbladder polyps are common and usually harmless, while gallbladder cancer is uncommon but requires specialist hepatobiliary surgery when it is found.

The bile ducts carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small bowel. Specialist biliary surgery treats blockages, strictures, injuries and cancers of the bile ducts, often in partnership with gastroenterologists and radiologists.