Contents



Preface

The complicated nature of hepatic anatomy and physiology, as well as the variety of challenging diseases affecting the liver, have all contributed to the field of hepatic surgery being a highly demanding surgical specialty. The training of a liver surgeon consists of achieving technical expertise, a deep understanding of the intricacies of hepatic anatomy and physiology, experience with acute and chronic liver disease ranging from trauma, infections, benign lesions to primary and metastatic malignancies, as well as knowledge of the continuously evolving technologies. This foundation is necessary to be able to correctly choose from a variety of different treatment methods and different hepatectomy techniques that would be best suited to a specific patient and a specific health problem. The multitude of hepatic surgery techniques involve strategies such as ablation, electroporation, resection with several different instruments and, last but not least, liver transplantation. At the same time, the physician dealing with these complex issues needs to be aware of the right mix of treatments, as well as the proper sequence of administration. Additionally, it is imperative to have an understanding of the molecular biology of hepatic function and the evolution of the various diseases to be able to provide patient-targeted therapies.

This book provides an overview of all the above with chapters presenting the intricacies of liver physiology, the challenges and current update on complex hepatic diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, discussion about the role of robotic surgery and descriptions of the indications and techniques for some of the more demanding hepatic surgeries involved in the treatment of both benign and malignant liver diseases. The book's value lies in the fact that the authors present us with their distilled wisdom, which is the result of substantial experience

and daily involvement in this most difficult field of medicine and surgery.

ing or in practice, treating patients with hepatic diseases.

This book should be a useful resource for any physician, whether they are in train-

**Dr. Georgios Tsoulfas, MD, PhD, FICS, FACS**

Associate Professor of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,

Thessaloniki, Greece

**Dr. Luis Rodrigo, MD** University of Oviedo,

Spain
