Dr. Sean M. Ronnekleiv-Kelly, MD, FACS

Liver resection can be performed laparoscopically or through open surgery. Laparoscopic liver resection is a minimally invasive surgery that requires a few tiny incisions on the abdomen, through which the surgeon inserts a thin tube with a camera (laparoscope). Open hepatectomy is performed through a laparotomy, which makes one large incision on the abdomen. Although a laparoscopic liver resection is associated with less pain and quicker recovery, patients may have to undergo an open liver resection depending on factors such as the location of the tumor and previous abdominal operations they have had.

After the liver resection, patients will stay in the hospital for up to six days. The recovery period will vary based on how much of the liver was removed. Limiting consumption of alcohol and light physical activity, such as walking, can help patients to have a speedy recovery.

Pancreatectomy can be done by open or minimally invasive surgery. During a laparoscopic pancreatectomy, the surgeon will use tiny incisions to insert a thin tube with a camera, or laparoscope, into the abdomen. Open surgery, or a laparotomy, is performed through a larger incision on the abdomen. If additional organs are removed, some procedures may require that the small intestine be reconnected to the stomach.

The hospital for pancreatectomy stay may be between 1-3 weeks. Generally, laparoscopic surgeries require shorter recovery periods. Whether patients undergo an open or laparoscopic procedure is determined by factors such as their condition and the extent of their procedure. For example, open surgery tends to be more common for distal pancreatectomies. If patients have difficulty eating, they may require a nasogastric tube, inserted through the nose, to carry food to their stomachs. A catheter can be inserted into the bladder if patients have trouble urinating. Full recovery may take about two months.

Small bowel resection can be done through either a laparoscopic or open approach. If someone is having a laparoscopic small bowel resection, their surgeon will make multiple small incisions on the abdomen and insert a thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope. If they are having an open small bowel resection, a large cut is made on the abdomen to expose the intestine. A laparoscopic small bowel resection is associated with less pain and requires a shorter recovery period, but depending on the condition, patients may have to undergo an open procedure.

After making the necessary incisions, the surgeon will remove the targeted portion of the intestine and then perform an anastomosis. Depending on the amount of intestine left, an anastomosis may involve the surgeon either joining together the ends of the intestine or creating a stoma which is an opening in the abdomen. In this procedure, called an ileostomy, the end of the small intestine (ileum) is attached to the opening in the abdominal wall. A drainage pouch will be attached to the skin to collect waste.

Stomas may be permanent or temporary. If the stoma is temporary, the ends of the intestine will be rejoined in a later procedure. Temporary stomas are generally used to allow time for the intestines to heal following surgery.

Small bowel resection is typically completed in one to four hours. After the operation, patients will need to stay in the hospital for a few days, and it may take some time before they can return to their normal diet.