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What Is Hepatic Wedge Resection?

Hepatic wedge resection is liver surgery that removes a localized lesion together with a margin of surrounding liver tissue without following the boundaries of an entire anatomical liver segment. It is also called a nonanatomic or parenchymal-sparing liver resection. The procedure is commonly used for selected peripheral liver tumors when an adequate margin can be obtained while preserving as much healthy liver as possible. It can be performed through an open, laparoscopic, or robotic approach.

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What Is Hepatic Wedge Resection?

Hepatic wedge resection is liver surgery that removes a localized lesion together with a margin of surrounding liver tissue without following the boundaries of an entire anatomical liver segment. It is also called a nonanatomic or parenchymal-sparing liver resection. The procedure is commonly used for selected peripheral liver tumors when an adequate margin can be obtained while preserving as much healthy liver as possible. It can be performed through an open, laparoscopic, or robotic approach.

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Why Is Hepatic Wedge Resection Performed?

The procedure is used for selected liver metastases, hepatocellular tumors, and certain benign or indeterminate lesions that require surgical removal. A wedge approach is most suitable when the lesion can be removed safely without sacrificing a full liver segment or lobe. Surgeons consider tumor size, number, location, relationship to major vessels and bile ducts, liver function, and the possibility of future liver surgery. Preserving liver tissue can be especially useful when multiple lesions are treated or when recurrence could require another resection later.

How Is Hepatic Wedge Resection Performed?

The surgeon identifies the lesion with preoperative imaging, direct inspection, and often intraoperative ultrasound. The liver tissue is divided around the lesion with a planned margin while small blood vessels and bile ducts are sealed, clipped, or sutured. Larger vessels and central bile ducts are preserved whenever they do not need to be removed with the specimen. Bleeding control can include temporary inflow occlusion, energy devices, vascular staplers, clips, sutures, or combinations of these methods.

What Is Recovery Like After Hepatic Wedge Resection?

Recovery depends on the number and location of lesions removed, the surgical approach, liver health, and whether other procedures were performed. Patients are monitored for bleeding, bile leakage, infection, liver-function changes, pain, and return of bowel function. Walking and diet are advanced gradually, while heavy lifting is limited during abdominal healing. Follow-up also addresses the underlying liver disease or cancer and can include imaging, laboratory tests, and additional treatment.

What Are the Risks and Complications?

Possible complications include bleeding, bile leak, infection, intra-abdominal fluid collection, blood clots, and injury to nearby structures. Liver failure is less common after a small wedge resection than after major hepatectomy but remains a concern in patients with poor baseline liver function or extensive combined surgery. A cut bile duct or vessel can cause delayed leakage or bleeding. Tumor recurrence can occur in the remaining liver and can require additional surgery, ablation, systemic therapy, or another treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hepatic Wedge Resection

Is hepatic wedge resection the same as a segmentectomy?

No. Wedge resection removes a lesion without strictly following anatomical segment boundaries, while segmentectomy removes one or more defined liver segments based on their vascular anatomy.

Why is wedge resection called parenchymal-sparing surgery?

The operation removes the lesion with a margin while preserving more uninvolved liver tissue than a larger anatomical resection would remove.

Can hepatic wedge resection be done laparoscopically?

Yes. Selected lesions can be removed laparoscopically or robotically, while others require an open approach because of location, size, vascular involvement, or surgical complexity.

Can liver tumors return after wedge resection?

Yes. Recurrence can develop in the remaining liver or elsewhere depending on the underlying disease. Continued imaging and disease-specific follow-up are commonly required.

References

Parenchymal-sparing liver surgery in patients with colorectal liver metastases. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4919708/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.

Hepatic Parenchymal Preservation Surgery. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4529114/. 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.

Laparoscopic liver resection: Wedge resections to living donor hepatectomy. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4188891/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.

Parenchymal-Sparing Versus Anatomic Liver Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28364212/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.