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Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
About me
Deputy Chief Physician, has repeatedly visited provincial tertiary hospitals for further training in general surgery.
Proficient in diseases
Standardized treatment for gallstones, tumors, gastrointestinal tumors, as well as general surgery such as thyroid and breast surgery.
Voices
Do you need surgery for a two-centimeter liver cyst?
A liver cyst of 2 cm currently does not require surgical treatment. A liver cyst is a benign tumor of the liver, and most are caused by congenital factors. Patients generally do not experience any discomfort and are mostly discovered during ultrasound exams. Therefore, small-volume liver cysts generally do not require special treatment. If the diameter is 2 cm, this is relatively small and does not require special treatment. However, it is still necessary to regularly recheck with ultrasound to monitor any changes in size dynamically. If there is a rapid increase in size over a short period, it should be taken seriously. Additionally, liver cysts generally do not affect liver function. If liver function abnormalities occur, surgical removal may be necessary.
What should I do if gallstones cause my complexion to turn yellow?
If a patient with gallstones presents with yellowing of the skin, jaundice has occurred. When jaundice appears, it is often a secondary obstructive jaundice. In such cases, the patient will display symptoms such as lighter stool color, darker urine color, and yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes due to jaundice. Therefore, at this point, the only treatment for the patient is surgery, which typically involves laparoscopic cholecystectomy. By removing the gallbladder, a definitive cure can often be achieved. In severe cases, some cholesterol-lowering medications may be used for symptomatic treatment, but generally, symptoms can be alleviated after surgical removal.
What should not be eaten with gallstones?
Patients with gallstones should primarily avoid spicy and stimulating foods, such as chili peppers, barbecue, and garlic, to reduce inflammation. They should also avoid foods high in fats and cholesterol, such as animal organs and fatty meats. For patients with gallstones, the diet should mainly consist of light and mild foods, and include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits to lessen the burden on the gallbladder and reduce the frequency of symptoms. If a patient with gallstones repeatedly experiences discomfort or pain in the upper right abdomen, it is necessary to consider surgical removal of the gallbladder at an early stage. Surgery is the only definitive treatment to improve the quality of life for these patients, and diet still needs to be carefully managed post-surgery.
I had a liver hemangioma removed five years ago and it still hurts a lot. What should I do?
If a patient still experiences pain five years after surgical removal of a liver hemangioma, attention should be paid, and further examinations should be completed to rule out other diseases. Generally, patients with hemangiomas do not experience significant discomfort after removal, and there are no obvious sequelae. Therefore, if discomfort occurs, it is important to conduct thorough examinations as soon as possible to identify the cause and treat it accordingly. For instance, liver diseases like cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver cancer can all manifest as upper right abdominal pain. At this point, it is necessary to differentiate among these causes and treat accordingly. If the patient has liver cancer, early surgical removal should be performed to achieve better treatment outcomes.
Can people with gallbladder cancer eat lamb?
Patients with gallbladder cancer can appropriately eat mutton, as mutton is a food high in protein, which can supplement the albumin needed by the human body and better improve the patient's resistance. However, patients with gallbladder cancer may experience discomfort such as pain in the upper right abdomen and may also encounter digestive symptoms like indigestion and bloating. Therefore, it is recommended for gallbladder cancer patients to consume foods that are easy to digest, which can reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate recovery. Although mutton can be consumed, it should be eaten in small, frequent meals to prevent complications such as intestinal obstruction. Additionally, for the treatment of gallbladder cancer, surgical removal should be used as early as possible to achieve a cure, with earlier detection and treatment likely leading to a relatively better prognosis.
What will happen if gallstones worsen?
For patients with gallstones, if exacerbation occurs, they will exhibit significant pain in the upper right abdomen, and may even experience radiating pain in the right shoulder, scapular area, and back, severely affecting the quality of life. Some patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension among other gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, patients with these symptoms should undergo surgery as soon as possible. The primary treatment for gallstones is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as it has the advantages of a small incision, minimal injury, and faster recovery, making it often the first choice in clinical settings. Additionally, it is still necessary for postoperative patients to avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammation and better facilitate recovery from the condition.
Dietary Taboos for Gallstones
Patients with gallstones should primarily avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, barbecue, and garlic. They should adopt a light diet, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and also avoid foods high in cholesterol and fats, as these foods can exacerbate gallstone symptoms. Since most gallstones are cholesterol stones, patients with symptomatic gallstones should also undergo surgery as soon as possible. Only through surgery can a cure be achieved, which can significantly improve the patient's quality of life. Post-surgery, patients still need to be mindful of their diet to facilitate recovery.
Can gallbladder cancer with liver metastasis be treated?
If a gallbladder cancer patient experiences liver metastasis, aggressive treatment can be applied, but it can only be symptomatic treatment and cannot achieve a cure. Gallbladder cancer is a type of malignancy with a high degree of malignancy, prone to metastasis to other parts, and with very poor treatment outcomes. If liver metastasis occurs, the condition is severe and has reached the middle to late stages. Treatment cannot involve surgical removal at this time. Instead, active management should be employed to improve quality of life and better control the disease, though it cannot be cured. When gallbladder cancer patients experience liver metastasis, symptoms may include pain in the liver area, abnormal liver function, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and other clinical symptoms. At this time, symptomatic treatment should be actively pursued to better maintain the patient's life and improve quality of life.
How to deal with malignant liver cysts?
If a liver cyst becomes malignant, it may present with a rapid increase in size in a short period, fast growth, and possibly pain in the liver area. It may also affect liver function, leading to clinical symptoms like ascites and jaundice. Therefore, it is crucial to address a liver cyst as soon as possible. The only treatment method is surgical removal to achieve a cure, so it is essential to complete relevant examinations promptly, exclude contraindications for surgery, and proceed with surgical treatment as soon as possible. After surgery, patients still need regular follow-up checks such as ultrasound and CT scans to assess the condition periodically, prevent recurrence and metastasis. Diet-wise, it is also recommended to consume foods high in protein to supplement the body's needed albumin for better disease control.
Liver cysts and spleen enlargement, what's going on?
Liver cysts and an enlarged spleen are terms used in imaging studies. For liver cysts, they are common benign tumors and usually, the patient does not experience any significant discomfort. Thus, no special treatment is required; regular follow-up with ultrasound to monitor changes in size is sufficient. However, if a liver cyst grows large, it can cause pain in the liver area. If liver function becomes abnormal, surgical removal may be considered. As for an enlarged spleen, it is caused by various conditions that lead to an increase in spleen size, such as in cases of portal hypertension, which often results in splenomegaly and hyperfunctioning spleen. Blood disorders may also cause the spleen to enlarge. Therefore, the treatment varies depending on the underlying cause.