Christopher B. Nahm is a Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeon based at Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
This is the kind of surgery that focuses on organs in the upper tummy. That includes the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts, plus nearby areas that may need careful treatment when things get complicated.
In many cases, Dr Nahm looks after people dealing with conditions such as pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and neuroendocrine tumours. He also treats pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and pancreatic islet cell tumours. These are serious diagnoses, and care often needs to be planned closely, especially around timing and the type of operation needed.
He also sees patients with non-cancer problems. For example, acute pancreatitis and hereditary pancreatitis can be very painful and stressful, and treatment may involve surgery as part of the broader plan. Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) is another condition that can require surgical care.
Some cases are more complex than they look. At times, people need help with gastrointestinal fistula, where an abnormal connection forms between parts of the gut. There are also situations involving exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, where the pancreas isn’t doing its job properly and treatment may be part of the overall pathway of care.
Dr Nahm’s surgical work can include major pancreas and liver operations. This may involve procedures such as a pancreaticoduodenectomy and pancreatectomy. He also performs hepatectomy for liver conditions, including hepatic hemangioma. Other procedures can include splenectomy and tissue biopsy when doctors need to check what’s going on and guide next steps.
There is also a role for treatment like liver embolization for certain liver conditions, alongside other hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery options. And in rarer situations, such as situs inversus, the anatomy is different, so surgical planning needs extra attention.
Overall, Dr Nahm works with patients who need upper abdominal surgery, whether it’s for cancer, ongoing inflammation, or other tricky problems affecting the pancreas and liver area.