Message from the Director of the Department
From robotic surgery to liver transplants, we provide the latest and best surgical treatments using advanced techniques. Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery is known for its high difficulty and the presence of hard-to-treat cancers. However, with the advanced surgical skills and perioperative management developed through liver transplants, Okayama University Hospital boasts top-class surgical volume and outcomes in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. Recently, we have also focused on robotic surgery, in addition to tackling liver transplants and advanced or recurrent cancers. We are dedicated to offering hope and a future to patients suffering from illness, with courage, compassion, and the highest quality surgical care.
Director,
Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic SurgeryToshiyoshi Fujiwara
Scope of Target Diseases
We perform liver transplants for children and adults with end-stage liver cirrhosis or acute liver failure. In the hepatobiliary and pancreatic fields, we conduct surgeries for malignant diseases such as liver cancer, bile duct cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Additionally, we treat benign conditions like gallstones, pancreaticobiliary maljunction, choledochal cysts, and chronic pancreatitis. We also perform splenectomy and shunt surgeries for portal hypertension.
Features and Description of Medical Care
Our department is a regional hub for hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeries, performing approximately 120 liver resections, 80 pancreatic resections, and 20 liver transplants annually, ranking among the top in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
With a 25-year history of living-donor liver transplants, we have also successfully performed the first brain-dead liver and kidney transplants in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, as well as the first simultaneous brain-dead liver and kidney transplant in Japan. As of July 2024, we have completed a total of 511 liver transplants, including 60 brain-dead donor transplants, making us the leading transplant center in these regions.
In recent years, we have focused on minimally invasive robotic surgery, with over 100 procedures annually, including liver resections, pancreatic resections, and surgeries for choledochal cysts. Hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases are known for their high surgical difficulty and the prevalence of hard-to-treat cancers. We ensure optimal, high-quality surgical care through close collaboration with related departments. We also actively accept advanced cancers deemed inoperable by other hospitals, always exploring surgical possibilities. As a last resort for many patients, we are committed to providing the best possible surgical care, never giving up until the end.
About the Reserch
In our department, we conduct a wide range of clinical and basic research. While these studies may seem independent, they are all interconnected, forming a cohesive translational research effort. Each study contributes to the larger goal of continuous scientific advancement.
Medical Treatment Results
In 2023, we performed 159 complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeries, including 15 liver transplants, 133 liver resections, and 71 pancreatic resections. Among these, 94 surgeries were assisted by robotic technology.
Staff
