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The course will attract among the best surgical oncologists, liver surgeons and liver transplant surgeons from across the United States and will be teleconferenced live to UPMC's Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies in Palermo, Italy. Attendees at both locations will be able to view two laparoscopic liver resection surgeries and interact with the surgeons during those cases involving patients with benign liver tumors.

About 3,000 liver resection operations are performed in the United States each year whereby surgeons cut away segments of the liver that contain tumors. In some cases, 75 percent of the liver may be surgically removed. However, fewer than 5 percent of theses cases are done using minimally invasive techniques. According to some estimates, less than 100 laparoscopic liver resections were performed last year in this country.

These numbers are expected to increase as more and more surgeons consider the approach for their patients.

Laparoscopic liver resection involves three or four Band-Aid-sized incisions, whereas the traditional open liver resection operation requires the same large incision that is used for liver transplantation. Patients undergoing the minimally invasive technique can be discharged from the hospital in two days versus seven to 10 days with the more invasive surgery, and can expect a much quicker recovery. Typically, those who undergo open liver resection need six to eight weeks to fully recover.

UPMC surgeons have performed 32 laparoscopic liver resections in the last two years. About 80 percent of these have been for patients with benign liver masses, while the r
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Contact: Lisa Rossi
rossil@upmc.edu
412-647-3555
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
16-Sep-2003