HPB Surgery

HPB surgery stands for Hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, which is a highly specialized field of surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts. HPB surgeons are skilled in performing complex surgical procedures to treat a variety of conditions, including benign and malignant tumors, cysts, infections, and anatomical abnormalities within these organs and their associated structures.

• Liver Surgery: HPB surgeons perform liver resections (hepatectomies) to remove portions of the liver affected by tumors (both primary and metastatic), cysts, or other diseases. They may also perform liver transplantations for end-stage liver disease caused by conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver cancer.
• Pancreatic Surgery: HPB surgeons are trained in performing surgeries on the pancreas to treat conditions such as pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis (both acute and chronic), pancreatic cysts, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Procedures may include pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), distal pancreatectomy, or total pancreatectomy, depending on the specific diagnosis and extent of the disease.
• Biliary Surgery: This involves surgical procedures to address diseases affecting the bile ducts and gallbladder. HPB surgeons may perform procedures such as bile duct resections, hepaticojejunostomy (surgical reconstruction of the bile ducts), or cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder) for conditions like bile duct strictures, choledochal cysts, or gallstones.
• Complex Reconstruction: HPB surgeons are trained to perform complex reconstructive procedures to restore or preserve the normal functioning of the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts after surgical resections or trauma. This may involve techniques such as bile duct reconstruction, hepaticojejunostomy, or pancreaticojejunostomy.
• Minimally Invasive Techniques: Like in other surgical specialties, HPB surgeons are increasingly utilizing minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopy and robotic-assisted surgery, to perform complex HPB procedures. These techniques offer benefits such as smaller incisions, reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times compared to traditional open surgery.

HPB surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach, and HPB surgeons often collaborate closely with hepatologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive care to patients with complex HPB conditions. Given the intricacy of these surgeries and the potential risks involved, HPB surgery is typically performed by surgeons with specialized training and expertise in hepatopancreatobiliary procedures.