The department is highly specialized center for managing and treating patients who suffer from liver, pancreas or biliary diseases that require surgical intervention. Since 1987, National Liver Institute (NLI) has been growing to be a unique and iconic center among Egypt and the Middle East in managing liver diseases. Its academic and research activities made it to stand out in this demanding sub-
specialty; with liver diseases becoming an endemic problem among the Egyptian population. Early trials of Liver transplantation took place in the NLI for the first time in the Middle East in 1993 with the help of Prof. However, it was suspended due to the legislation dilemma of transplantation rules at that time. In 2003, in a cooperation protocol with Koyoto University, Japan and with the help of Prof. Koichi Tanaka; Living donor liver transplantation (LDLTx) program has emerged to the light. The program was with the help of the Japanese team for the first 28 cases then the Egyptian team took over and started performing LDLTx independently. The department has prominent academic activities as it's the sole place in Egypt that grants MSc and MD degrees in HPB and Transplant Surgery. Research activities is an iconic tend of NLI aiming for innovation in the field of Liver diseases. This is apparently facilitated via supporting research projects, international manuscript publication and cooperation protocols with internationally reputed universities such as Koyoto University in Japan, Heidelberg University in Germany and Imperial College in London. A glimpse on the operations that take place in the HPB & Transplant Surgery department is as follows:
• Living Donor Liver Transplantation (210 cases until December 2013)
• Liver resections for tumors in adults and children.
• Liver surgeries for cystic lesions as hydatid cysts and liver abscess.
• Management of multiple trauma patients with liver injury.
• Laparoscopic liver surgery in liver resections.
• Whipple's operation.
• Total pancreatectomy & distal pancreatectomy.
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open CBD exploration.
• Management of post-traumatic biliary injuries.
• Post-cholecystectomy biliary injuries.
• Management of choledocal cysts.
• Kasai operation for biliary atresia
• Splenectomy for hypersplenism & devascularization of gastric varices.
• Ventral hernias in hepatic patients either in elective or emergency settings.
• Management of intestinal obstruction & perforated viscus in hepatic patients.
