Jennifer Matthews: Dr. Cataldo Doria has performed hundreds of liver procedures. But now, his two newest surgical tools are making an amazing difference for patients like Ben Lin.
Ben Lin: I guess I consider myself one of the lucky ones.
Jennifer Matthews: Dr. Doria removed 60 percent of Lin's liver.
Ben Lin: It was not a lot of people can have a surgery with a tumor that big.
Jennifer Matthews: Lin was up and walking 24 hours after surgery. Doctors say Lin had such a speedy recovery because he lost virtually no blood during the procedure. It's a huge challenge for any surgeon because the liver receives a dual blood supply. A large vein carries blood to the organ from the intestine. A big artery also supplies blood.
Dr. Cataldo Doria: This makes the liver similar to a sponge full of blood. Therefore, cutting the liver is very complex because major bleeding can occur,
Jennifer Matthews: Instead of cutting, Doria uses a surgical tool called a CUSA. It uses ultrasonic waves to aspirate, or suck out liver cells.
Dr. Cataldo Doria: Now, if you remove ideally, all of the liver cells from the liver, you are left with a skeleton of blood vessels.
Jennifer Matthews: Another surgeon follows with a tool called a TissueLink. Hot, sterile water flows through the tip of this probe and seals the blood vessels upon contact.
Dr. Cataldo Doria: What we really want to achieve is to eliminate the blood transfusion.
Jennifer Matthews: Six months after his surgery, Lin is cancer-free and feeling better than ever. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services