Liver, Pancreas, & Bile Duct Surgery

The pancreas, liver, and bile ducts are essential parts of the human digestive tract. The pancreas produces enzymes–which help break down sugars, starches, and fats–and hormones, which are released into the bloodstream and assist with blood sugar regulation and feelings of fullness. When the pancreas becomes inflamed or cancerous cells begin to multiply, a patient may experience uncomfortable, life-disrupting symptoms such as unintentional weight loss, diarrhea or fatty stools, indigestion, loss of appetite, or abdominal pain.

The liver produces proteins, stores energy, and acts as a large filter to break down toxins in your body to keep you functioning normally. When the liver is injured from infections or certain toxins, a patient may develop symptoms such as tiredness, low energy, confusion, and even fluid in the belly called ascites. The liver can form cancerous cells or be a site where other cancers spread to.

The bile ducts and gallbladder store and deliver bile which helps to break down and digest fats and proteins in your intestines. The gallbladder can form stones from the bile over time which can cause inflammation and occasionally cancers. When the bile ducts and gallbladder are inflamed or blocked, a patient may experience abdominal pain, nausea, fevers, and even jaundice (yellow skin).

Open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery options to remove cancerous and non-cancerous growths in the liver and bile ducts. This includes complex liver resections that require bile duct reconstructions and vascular reconstructions.

Some tumors of the liver may be able to be destroyed using microwaves to heat and kill the cancer cells.

Open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery options to remove the tail and/or body of the pancreas (including the spleen in some scenarios) for cancerous and non-cancerous growths.

Open and robotic surgery options to remove the head of the pancreas, part of the duodenum, and part of the bile duct for cancerous and non-cancerous growths. This includes complex resections that require portal vein reconstructions and arterial reconstructions. Our team are some of the few nationally-recognized experts in robotic Whipple procedures.

Open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery options to remove part of the pancreas where a neuroendocrine tumor has formed

Open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery options to remove dead tissue from acute pancreatitis. Our team will typically offer an endoscopic necrosectomy whenever possible (non-invasive)

Open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery options to definitively fix bile duct injuries, leaks, and obstructions/strictures.

Open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery options for complex cholecystitis where General Surgeons are unable to safely remove the gallbladder. This also includes complex gallbladder cancer resections