Liver Question

Everywhere you read and everybody you talk to says your liver needs to be in the best condition possible before surgery. What does that mean? What does your liver do? Kimberly Shivers even put in her list of questions to ask the doctor is would he do a liver biopsy. Sue 266/?140

Mornin, Sue, Some Drs make you go on a pre-op diet to shrink the size of our oversized livers, were it will be easier to do the surg. That's all i know , sorry not much help? dawn

The liver basically is in the way during this surgery. The liver is extremely friable (bleeds on touch) and they don't like to touch it much. If you lose weight before surgery, the liver is the first place you lose it. The smaller and less fatty your liver, the easier it is to get to the parts that they will be working on.....So skinny up that liver if you can!!! Smoochies Arlies

According to my nutritionist, the reason they're putting me on the sugar-free clear liquids diet two weeks before surgery is to shrink my liver before surgery so that - as Arlies said - it doesn't get in the way. The nutritionist said that usually an overweight person's liver is enlarged and fatty. If that's the case - our livers are going to be getting a lot healthier in the future, right?! Rebecca