Liver resection
In intensive care you have one to one nursing care. In the high dependency unit you have very close nursing care. Your surgeon and anaesthetist review you regularly and watch your progress closely.
These units are busy and often noisy places that some people find strange and disorientating. You'll feel drowsy because of the anaesthetic and painkillers.
It's common for people to have strange dreams or hallucinations during and after a stay in intensive care. These can seem very real and frightening. They usually get better with time but do talk to your hospital team if they continue.
When you wake up, you have several tubes in you. This can be frightening, so it helps to know what they’re for.
You might have:
drips to give you blood transfusions and fluids usually through a vein in your neck
wound drains to drain any blood, bile or fluid from around the operation site
a tube down your nose into your stomach (nasogastric tube) to drain bile and stop you from feeling sick
a tube into your bladder (catheter) to measure how much urine you pass
a small tube into a vein or artery to check your blood pressure
a fine tube in your back that goes into your spinal fluid (epidural) that you have painkillers through
You may also have an oxygen mask on.
Electronic pumps may control any medicines you have through your drip.
You have dressings over your wounds. The position and number of wounds you have depend on whether you have open or surgery. Your nurse will check the dressing to see if the wound needs cleaning. Try to keep your dressings dry. If you have wound drains, these stay in until they stop draining fluid. Your nurse measures the amount of fluid in the drains. The drains usually stay in for about a week, but it might be longer. You may go home with a drain still in. You might need to go back to the hospital to have it removed. Your wound may be closed with stitches or clips. You have these taken out after about 10 days. Some wounds are closed with stitches that dissolve and don't need to be removed.
It’s normal to have pain for the first week or so. You have painkillers to help.
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as you feel any pain. They need your help to find the right type and dose of painkiller for you. Painkillers work best when you take them regularly.
Immediately after surgery you might have painkillers through a drip into the bloodstream that you control. This is called patient controlled analgesia (PCA). Analgesia is another word for painkillers.
Or you might have painkillers through a small thin tube that is put into your back. This tube connects to a pump that gives you a constant dose of painkillers. This is called an epidural.
You get painkillers to take home. Your nurse will talk to you about:
how often to take them
when to take them
what side effects you may get
Contact your healthcare team if you still have pain or if it gets worse.
Most people start to eat and drink the day after their operation but it depends on how you feel. When you're allowed, you may start with sips of water. Gradually the amount you can eat and drink will increase.
You might have a tube down your nose and into your stomach called a nasogastric tube. This drains fluid from your stomach and helps to stop you feeling sick. Your nurse will remove the tube once you are eating and drinking normally.
Your nurses and physiotherapists will help you to move around as soon as possible. They'll check you're doing your breathing and leg exercises. This helps you recover.
You might be sitting in a chair or walking around your bed the day after your operation. Within a few days you'll be able to walk along the hospital corridor.
During the first 24 hours after your operation, you’ll start to feel better. The drips will come out, you’ll start eating and can move about better.
You’ll begin to feel like you’re making progress.
How long you stay in hospital can vary. You might be in hospital from one week to a couple of weeks.
You’re likely to feel very tired for several weeks and sometimes months after your surgery. You will need to take plenty of time to rest at first.
It helps to do a bit more every day. Try:
sitting for less time each day
walking around the house a bit more each day
building up to walking outside
What you can do depends on how fit you were before your surgery and any problems you have afterwards. Talk to the physiotherapist or your doctor if you’re unsure about what you should be doing.
Contact your healthcare team if you have any problems or symptoms you’re unsure about.
You’ll have follow up appointments to check your recovery and sort out any problems. They‘re also your opportunity to raise any concerns you have about your progress.
Last reviewed: 18 Feb 2025
Next review due: 18 Feb 2028
Surgery is one of the main treatments for early cancer that started in the liver (primary liver cancer).
A liver resection might be an option if your cancer is only in your liver. A surgeon can remove a small area, or up to three quarters of the liver.
Your treatment for liver cancer depends on the stage of your cancer and how well your liver is working. The most common treatments are surgery, heat treatment, drug treatments and radiotherapy.
There is support available to help you cope with a diagnosis of liver cancer, life during treatment and life after cancer.
Secondary liver cancer is when a cancer that started somewhere else in the body has spread to the liver. It is also called liver metastases.
Primary liver cancer is cancer that started in the liver. This section is mainly about the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
Connect with other people affected by cancer and share your experiences.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
