Our physicians have over 25 years of experience providing comprehensive hepatic/pancreatic/biliary surgery to patients from the west coast of Florida and beyond. Our surgeons are uniquely qualified to perform the technically demanding, complicated surgical procedures for diseases of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts.
Surgical Procedures
- Liver Transplantation
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Liver Resection
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Hepatico-Jejunostomy
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Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple Procedure)
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Distal Pancreatectomy
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Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy (Puestow Procedure)
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Common Bile Duct Exploration
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Portal Hypertension Surgery (Surgical Shunts)
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Cholecystectomy
Diseases Treated
Liver Disease
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Hepatocellular Carcinoma
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Metastatic Neoplasms (I.E. Colon Cancer)
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Benign Tumors And Cysts Of The Liver
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Polycystic Liver Disease
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Malignant Tumors Of The Liver (Cancer)
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Portal Hypertension
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End Stage Liver Disease
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Islet Cell Tumors
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Malignant Neoplasms (Pancreatic Cancer)
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Benign Tumors
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Cystic Neoplasms
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Chronic Pancreatitis
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Pseudocysts
Gallbladder and Biliary disease
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Malignant Tumors Of The Bile Duct
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Gallbladder Cancer
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Bile Duct Injuries And Strictures
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Choledochal Cysts
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Cholangiocarcinoma
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Cholangitis And Cholestatic Disease
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Biliary Cirrhosis
Our collaborative approach brings together:
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Surgeons
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Hepatologists
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Gastroenterologists
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Oncologists
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Interventional Radiologists
We hold frequent multidisciplinary conferences to discuss cases and treatment plans. This collaboration offers our patients the full array of non-surgical diagnostic and treatment options including:
- Endoscopic Ultrasound
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreaticogram (ERCP)
- Specialized Imaging Techniques
- Percutaneous Interventions
A number of clinical trials and treatment protocols are also available for treatment of liver, pancreas and bile duct diseases. Published data have demonstrated that hospitals such as Tampa General Hospital with high volumes for complicated surgical diseases such as liver, pancreas and bile duct surgery experience the lowest complication and death rates.
Liver
Surgery of the liver may be required for several types of diseases. Most commonly, malignant tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), metastatic tumors, cholangiocarcinoma or other types of cancerous tumors require a hepatic resection (removal of a portion of the liver). Surgical resection of liver tumors is associated with the best chance for cure of malignant tumors. Benign tumors such as cysts, adenomas or hemangiomas may also require resection if they are causing symptoms.
Surgical shunts may be performed to control internal bleeding in the stomach or esophagus caused by high blood pressure in the portal vein (a major vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver). We offer procedures that can reroute the blood flow, reduce pressure, and control the bleeding.
Liver transplantation may be offered for patients with advanced liver failure and some liver cancers.
Pancreas
Surgical diseases of the pancreas include benign and malignant tumors, cysts, pseudocyts and duct abnormalities. Most tumors are removed with resection (removal of a portion of the pancreas), including the Whipple procedure or distal pancreatectomy, depending on the location of the tumors. Surgical treatment of pseudocysts involves drainage of the cyst into the stomach or intestine. Occasionally, the pancreatic duct becomes injured due to chronic inflammation. Treatment may require resection of the pancreas or Puestow procedure.
Gallbladder and Bile Ducts
The bile duct system and gallbladder (collectively known as the biliary tree) are involved in the drainage and delivery of bile from the liver into the intestine. Bile production is one of the most vital functions of the liver and it is necessary for the appropriate absorption of nutrients from the intestine. The most common disorder of the biliary tree is gallstones (cholelithiasis). They are usually located in the gallbladder and, if symptomatic, can be removed with minimally invasive surgery. The biliary tree can be a site for growth of malignant tumors. In this case the removal of a portion of bile duct may be necessary and possibly a section of the liver. Certain diseases can also injure the bile ducts causing a narrowing or stricture. Treatment may require removal of a portion of the bile duct or, occasionally, liver transplantation.