The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Liver cyst removal
HEPATIC CYSTECTOMY
Excision of a liver cyst or treatment to remove the wall of the cyst
What is liver cyst fenestration?
Liver cysts are small pockets of fluid that form in your liver. If they get too big, they can cause pain and swelling.
Simply draining the fluid is not enough to remove a cyst, as it fills up again. A more effective way is laparoscopic 'de-roofing' where a large portion of the cyst wall is removed.
Need to know
Your consultant will explain the procedure to you during your pre-op appointment, and also answer any questions you may have.
Laparoscopic de-roofing is usually performed under general anaesthetic. It is a surgical procedure done through 2‒3 small cuts in the abdomen, and uses a flexible fibre optic tube with a tiny camera and a light on the end (laparoscope) to see inside the body (‘keyhole' surgery).
Once the cyst is located, it's usually aspirated (drained of fluid) and part of the cyst wall is removed to prevent the cyst from refilling and recurring.
You will be required to stay in hospital for one to two days.
Laparoscopic de-roofing is usually performed under general anaesthetic. It is a surgical procedure done through 2‒3 small cuts in the abdomen, and uses a flexible fibre optic tube with a tiny camera and a light on the end (laparoscope) to see inside the body (‘keyhole' surgery).
Once the cyst is located, it's usually aspirated (drained of fluid) and part of the cyst wall is removed to prevent the cyst from refilling and recurring.
You will be required to stay in hospital for one to two days.
You'll have a pre-op assessment about 14 days before surgery to assess your general fitness.
As you'll be receiving a general anaesthetic, you may need to limit your food and drink intake in the six hours leading up to surgery. You're usually given anti-thrombosis socks to wear to stop you from developing blood clots in the veins of your legs during and after the procedure.
Be sure to inform your consultant in advance of any relevant medical information, such as:
- an artificial heart valve
- a coronary artery stent
- a pacemaker or defibrillator
- an artificial joint
- an artificial blood vessel graft
- a prescription for warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel
After your liver cyst excision, you'll be transferred to our recovery unit, where our dedicated team of HPB consultants and nurses will care for you. Recovery times for liver cyst excisions can vary, so your HPB consultant will explain when you can expect to leave the hospital and get back to your routine.
Most people make a full recovery within two weeks, and the risk of the cyst recurring has been shown to be very low.
Most people make a full recovery within two weeks, and the risk of the cyst recurring has been shown to be very low.
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8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
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52-54 Alderley Road SK9 1NY Wilmslow
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The Harley Street Clinic
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The Princess Grace Hospital
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The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Digestive Centre
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.