Description
HPB stands for hepato-pancreato-biliary — a specialized field of surgery focused on the liver, pancreas and bile ducts.
In this video, Dr. Chad Cragle, surgical oncologist at UAMS Health, explains what HPB surgery involves and why these organs are treated by highly trained specialists. Because conditions in this area are often complex, patients benefit from care provided by surgeons who focus specifically on these diseases and perform these procedures frequently.
Dr. Cragle discusses both malignant and benign conditions treated within HPB surgery, including pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancers, liver tumors, pancreatic cysts and chronic pancreatitis. He also explains why specialized, high-volume surgical expertise is important for achieving the best possible outcomes.
At UAMS Health, patients with HPB conditions receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary care designed to support them from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.
Learn more about liver, pancreas and bile duct conditions and the advanced surgical care available at UAMS Health.
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Transcript
What is HPB? The acronym stands for hepato-pancreato-biliary, specifically referring to the liver, the pancreas, and the bile ducts. Those three organs are anatomically grouped together, share similar treatment approaches, and involve a very high level of complexity in their care. Because of that, they tend to be cared for by specialists with specific training to provide the level of expertise needed.
For patients to get the best outcome possible, they really do want someone who performs these operations frequently and has specialized training in this area. I have specific training in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery from the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, or AHPBA, which focuses specifically on the care of patients with both malignant and benign conditions of this organ group.
Most commonly, I treat cancers of the pancreas, bile ducts, and liver. For the pancreas, that includes adenocarcinoma as well as some potentially malignant pancreatic cysts. For the biliary tract, I predominantly treat malignant processes of the bile ducts. And for the liver, I similarly treat mostly cancers, though there are some benign conditions as well — sometimes patients have symptomatic liver cysts. I also see patients with chronic pancreatitis when surgery may help them.
