05/18/2026
Benji, a 9-year-old Shih Tzu, was initially presented to his primary care vets for what seemed to be a routine dental procedure due to dental disease. However, preoperative blood work revealed significantly elevated liver enzymes, prompting further investigation.
Abdominal imaging identified a liver mass affecting a single liver lobe, giving Benji a potential surgical option. His owners were incredibly dedicated and elected to proceed with surgery to give him the best possible chance.
Benji subsequently underwent a liver lobectomy with us. As many surgeons know, successful surgical management of hepatic masses depends heavily on careful case selection. Ideally, the lesion should be confined to one — or at most two — liver lobes to allow for safe resection while preserving adequate functional hepatic tissue.
Preoperative planning is critical in these cases. Coagulation testing is essential before hepatic resection to ensure the patient retains adequate clotting function postoperatively. Equally important is access to the appropriate surgical equipment, including diathermy, abdominal retractors, and ideally surgical stapling devices to help achieve efficient vascular control and minimise haemorrhage risk.
Intraoperative bleeding remains one of the greatest challenges in hepatic surgery, with the literature reporting mortality rates of up to 5% associated with haemorrhage during these procedures. A strong understanding of hepatic anatomy and meticulous surgical technique are therefore absolutely essential.
Thankfully, Benji recovered beautifully following surgery. Within just a few days, his owners reported he was back to his normal cheeky self — brighter, more active, and eating even better than before surgery.
Cases like Benji’s are a great reminder of the importance of thorough pre-anaesthetic investigations and collaborative decision-making with committed owners.
We are delighted with his progress and wish Benji a long, happy, and uneventful future with his family. 🐾
