Hepatopankreatobiliyer HPB Cerrahi Birim

The hepatopancreatobiliary surgery department deals with the diagnosis and treatment of surgical diseases of the pancreas, biliary tract, liver and gallbladder. This unit, which is one of the most important fields of general surgery, includes general surgery specialists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas, biliary tract, liver and gallbladder, as well as have experience in microsurgery and surgical oncology.

The most common diseases and treatments are as follows:

Hepatic Hydatid disease

It is a disease caused by a type of parasite. It is also known as a "dog cyst" among people. The mature parasite lives in the intestines of animals such as wolves, jackals and dogs. Parasite eggs are excreted together with the feces of such animals.The eggs enter their intestines when sheep and cattle, which play an intermediate host role in parasite evaluation, eat some food s(grass, water...) contaminated with this parasite egg. Thus the worms are released in the intestine. The parasites mix with blood, nest in different parts of the body mostly in the liver and grow slowly. This is called bladder disease.

Sometimes humans can also act as an intermediate host in this cycle. If the substances contaminated by the parasite eggs (food, water...) are taken orally, the eggs open in the intestine and the parasites begin to spread. These parasites mostly cause cysts in the liver.

Symptoms: There is not a specific symptom of hepatic hydatid disease. There could be one or more cysts in the liver. Small cysts usually do not cause any disease. The disease is usually named during the examination of other diseases. Larger cysts show their indications such as pain and swelling on the right side.

Treatment: The standard treatment of the disease is surgery. The surgical method is determined by some variables such as the cyst size, its location in the liver, its number, and whether there are any complications. In some cases, needle aspiration and laparoscopy techniques can be tried.

Gallbladder stone

In healthy adults , the gallbladder is a hollow organ about 8 cm long and 4 cm wide with left-sided pear-shaped and it is just below the liver . The gallbladder is connected to the main bile duct ,which opens from the cystic to the duodenum

Bile sludge and newly formed gallstones usually do not cause instant symptoms. As per the research , about half of all gallstones do not cause any sign or symptom over the years.

The most significant symptom of gallstones is a type of pain specific to the biliary system known as "biliary colic".Gallbladder symptoms can be described as:

• Nagging pain despite the reliefs such as vomiting, antacid drugs that prevent heartburn, defecation, flatulence, changing position.
• Excessive sweating, nauseation.
• Intense pain
• Pain starts in the upper-middle and right part of the abdomen and can sometimes spread through the right shoulder blade,
• Breakthrough pain after eating.
• Pain that increases for 15-20 minutes, then persists for up to 5 hours
• Temporary pain.

Treatment: Gallbladder stones are treated with the surgical procedure by removing the gallbladder. However, the treatment type and its duration depend on the symptoms caused by the gallstones in the gallbladder and on the health condition of the patient.

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer may not show any obvious symptoms in the early stages, but when diagnosed, it may be too late for treatment. Therefore, liver cancer should be named in the early stage. In case of progression of the disease , tumor removal or liver transplantation is required.

Symptoms: Unexplained weight loss and poor appetite, persistent abdominal swelling, fluid retention, weakness and jaundice

Treatment: Liver tumors treatment consists of surgical removal of the tumor mass. Surgery is preferred for patients with adequate liver function and having a removable mass. However, some cases require liver transplantation. Surgery is preferred in patients where the mass can be removed.