Innovative surgery enables rapid liver regeneration in cancer patient

A Kenyan patient suffering from advanced liver cancer and chronic hepatitis B experienced remarkable liver regeneration in just one week, thanks to an innovative procedure called ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition with Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy). Dr. Vikram Belliappa, a senior consultant surgeon at SPARSH Hospital, performed two surgeries with a gap of 10 days. The first step involved cutting the blood supply to the diseased part of the liver, followed by the removal of the tumor-bearing section after the liver had regenerated. The surgeries were carefully planned using advanced 3D imaging and modeling. The patient, who had a complex medical condition, left the hospital just a week after the second surgery and is now recovering well. Traditional liver regeneration can take up to six months, but the new technique minimized the risk of liver failure, which is a significant concern in post-operative care.