Hepatobiliary Surgery & Liver Resection
Hepatobiliary surgery treats diseases of the liver, bile ducts and gallbladder. The most common procedure, liver resection (partial hepatectomy), removes a tumour-bearing portion of the liver while preserving enough healthy tissue, which regenerates over the following weeks. At Florence Healthcare International, specialist HPB surgeons work alongside oncology, radiology and anaesthesia teams, often within a multidisciplinary tumour board.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Hepatobiliary (HPB) surgery is the surgical treatment of conditions affecting the liver, bile ducts and gallbladder, along with closely related pancreatic surgery. The most frequently performed operation is liver resection, also called partial hepatectomy, in which the surgeon removes the diseased part of the liver — for example a primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), liver metastases that have spread from another organ such as the bowel, a benign tumour, or a bile-duct tumour. The aim is to remove all the diseased tissue while leaving behind enough healthy liver to function; the remaining liver then regenerates over the following weeks. Procedures range from removing a small wedge of tissue to a major lobe (hemihepatectomy), and may include bile-duct reconstruction or complex and repeat (redo) operations. Where the disease and anatomy allow, surgery can be carried out through a traditional open incision or by a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) approach.
From your first enquiry, a dedicated international patient coordinator guides you through every step — gathering your records, arranging interpretation, and helping with travel and accommodation. Before you travel, our hepatobiliary specialists can carry out a remote second-opinion review of your scans and reports to confirm whether resection is appropriate and to outline the likely plan. You then receive a transparent, itemised cost estimate covering the surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital stay and aftercare, so you can plan with confidence before making any commitment.
Who is a candidate?
- You have a primary liver cancer (such as hepatocellular carcinoma) or a tumour of the bile ducts that is confined enough to be removed surgically
- You have liver metastases — for example from colorectal cancer — that a tumour board considers suitable for resection
- You have a benign liver tumour or a bile-duct or gallbladder condition that requires surgical removal
- Imaging suggests that enough healthy liver can be preserved to function and regenerate after surgery
- Your general health, liver function and fitness for general anaesthesia have been assessed as acceptable for the operation
- Suitability is always confirmed by specialist review of your scans, and many cancer cases are discussed in a multidisciplinary tumour board before a recommendation is made
What happens
- 1
Preparation & imaging
You undergo detailed imaging (such as CT or MRI), blood tests and an assessment of liver function and fitness for anaesthesia. The findings are reviewed by the hepatobiliary team — and, for many cancers, a multidisciplinary tumour board — to plan exactly how much liver to remove and which approach to use.
- 2
The operation
Under general anaesthesia, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of the liver — from a small wedge to a major lobe — while preserving healthy tissue and nearby structures. Where suitable, this is performed laparoscopically through small incisions; more extensive or complex cases, including bile-duct reconstruction, are usually carried out through an open incision.
- 3
Early hospital recovery
You are monitored closely after surgery, often initially in a high-dependency or intensive care setting, with pain relief, fluids and nutrition managed by the team. Most patients gradually resume eating and walking over the following days as the remaining liver begins to regenerate.
- 4
Recovery & follow-up
Before you travel home, the team reviews your wound, results and any pathology findings, and agrees a follow-up plan. Your coordinator helps share reports with your doctors at home and arranges remote follow-up where appropriate; full recovery typically takes several weeks.
Benefits
- Removes liver, bile-duct or gallbladder tumours with the aim of clearing all diseased tissue
- Takes advantage of the liver's natural ability to regenerate, so a substantial portion can often be removed safely
- Offers minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery for selected patients, which can mean smaller incisions and a smoother recovery
- Delivered by specialist HPB surgeons working with oncology, radiology and anaesthesia teams
- Many cancer cases are planned through a multidisciplinary tumour board, aligning surgery with the wider treatment plan
- Coordinated international pathway with remote pre-travel review and a clear, itemised cost estimate
Risks & considerations
- As with any major surgery, there are risks of bleeding, infection and complications from general anaesthesia
- Bile leak from the cut surface of the liver or from a bile-duct reconnection can occur and may need further treatment
- Temporary impairment of liver function while the remaining liver regenerates, particularly after extensive resection
- Blood clots, chest infection or delayed wound healing, as with other major abdominal operations
- Some operations planned as laparoscopic may need to be converted to open surgery for safety
- Depending on the underlying disease, further treatment may be required and there is a possibility of recurrence over time
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is performed by our General Surgery Department.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Hepatobiliary Surgery & Liver Resection — frequently asked questions
The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate. When a portion is removed, the remaining healthy liver usually grows and restores much of its function over the following weeks. Surgeons plan each operation to leave behind enough well-functioning liver, so a substantial part can often be removed safely — but the exact amount depends on your liver's health and your individual anatomy, which is why careful imaging and assessment come first.
Open surgery is performed through a single larger incision and gives the surgeon direct access, which is often needed for major or complex resections and bile-duct reconstruction. Laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery uses several small incisions and a camera, and for suitable tumours it can mean less discomfort and a quicker recovery. The right approach depends on the size and position of the disease and your overall health; sometimes a laparoscopic operation is converted to open during surgery for safety.
Because every case is different, we do not quote a fixed price. After our specialists review your scans and reports, you receive a transparent, itemised estimate covering the surgeon, anaesthesia, hospital stay and aftercare, together with an expected length of stay for your situation. Hospital stays are commonly in the region of 5–10 days depending on the extent of surgery, but your coordinator will give you a personalised plan before you commit to travel.
Yes. You can send your imaging (such as CT or MRI), pathology and medical reports to us, and our hepatobiliary specialists will carry out a remote second-opinion review before you travel. This helps confirm whether liver resection is appropriate, outline the likely plan and approach, and prepare your itemised estimate — so you have clear answers before making any decision.
Related treatments
Considering hepatobiliary surgery & liver resection?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.