R R

What Is Hemihepatectomy?

Hemihepatectomy is major liver surgery that removes the anatomical right or left half of the liver. A right hemihepatectomy generally removes liver segments V through VIII, while a left hemihepatectomy removes segments II through IV. The operation also divides the portal inflow, hepatic arterial supply, bile ducts, and hepatic venous drainage serving the portion being removed. The remaining liver can enlarge and increase its functional capacity after surgery.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Is Hemihepatectomy?

Hemihepatectomy is major liver surgery that removes the anatomical right or left half of the liver. A right hemihepatectomy generally removes liver segments V through VIII, while a left hemihepatectomy removes segments II through IV. The operation also divides the portal inflow, hepatic arterial supply, bile ducts, and hepatic venous drainage serving the portion being removed. The remaining liver can enlarge and increase its functional capacity after surgery.

read more about hemihepatectomy ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

Why Is Hemihepatectomy Performed?

The operation is used to remove selected primary liver cancers, colorectal or other liver metastases, bile duct cancers, and some large benign or premalignant lesions. Surgery is considered only when the disease can be removed while leaving enough functioning liver and adequate blood inflow, venous outflow, and bile drainage. Preoperative imaging and liver-function assessment are used to estimate the future liver remnant. Portal vein embolization or another liver-growth strategy can be used before surgery when the predicted remnant is too small.

How Is Hemihepatectomy Performed?

The surgeon first confirms that the liver disease is resectable and identifies the major vessels and bile ducts that must be preserved or divided. Blood inflow and venous structures serving the liver half to be removed are controlled, and the liver parenchyma is divided along the planned anatomical plane. The relevant bile duct and hepatic vein are divided as part of removing the specimen. The procedure can be performed through an open approach or, in selected patients and centers, with laparoscopic or robotic techniques.

What Is Recovery Like After Hemihepatectomy?

Patients are monitored closely for bleeding, liver function, bile leakage, infection, kidney function, blood clots, and return of bowel function. Diet and walking are advanced as recovery progresses, while heavy lifting is restricted during abdominal healing. The remaining liver begins compensatory growth after resection, but full functional recovery depends on preexisting liver health and the amount of liver left behind. Follow-up also addresses the disease that required surgery, including pathology results and any additional cancer treatment.

What Are the Risks and Complications?

Possible complications include bleeding, bile leak, infection, intra-abdominal fluid collections, blood clots, pleural complications, and injury to nearby structures. Posthepatectomy liver failure is a major concern when the remaining liver is too small or has impaired function. Biliary strictures, vascular thrombosis, or poor perfusion of the liver remnant can also threaten recovery. Careful future-liver-remnant assessment and preoperative planning are used to reduce the risk of severe liver insufficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hemihepatectomy

What is the difference between right and left hemihepatectomy?

Right hemihepatectomy removes the anatomical right liver, generally segments V through VIII. Left hemihepatectomy generally removes segments II through IV.

Can the liver grow after hemihepatectomy?

Yes. The remaining liver undergoes compensatory hypertrophy after resection and can regain substantial functional capacity over time.

Why is the future liver remnant measured before surgery?

The remaining liver must be large and functional enough to support the body after major resection. An inadequate remnant raises the risk of posthepatectomy liver failure.

Can portal vein embolization be performed before hemihepatectomy?

Yes. It can be used to stimulate growth of the liver that will remain when preoperative assessment shows that the future liver remnant is too small.

References

Liver Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/liver/what-is-liver-cancer/treatment. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.

Techniques of hepatic resection. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3397635/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.

Anatomy of Hepatic Resectional Surgery. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4994882/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.

Current evidence on posthepatectomy liver failure. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9681670/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.

Preoperative Portal Vein Embolization: Basics Interventional Radiologists Need to Know. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11570156/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.