Hepatic injury secondary to warm ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and alterations in haemostatic parameters are often unavoidable events after major hepatic resection. The release of inflammatory mediator is believed to play a significant role in the genesis of these events. It has been suggested that preoperative steroid administration may reduce I/R injury and improve several aspects of the surgical stress response. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the clinical benefits on I/R injury and systemic responses of preoperatively administered corticosteroids. Seventy-six patients undergoing liver resection were randomized either to a steroid group or to a control group. Patients in the steroid group received preoperatively 500 mg of methylprednisolone. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, coagulation parameters, and inflammatory mediators, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were compared between the 2 groups. Length of stay, and type and number of complications were recorded as well. Postoperative serum levels of ALT, AST, total bilirubin, and inflammatory cytokines were significantly lower in the steroid than in the control group at postoperative days 1 and 2. Changes in hemostatic parameters were also significantly attenuated in the steroid group. In conclusion, the incidence of postoperative complications in the steroid group tended to be significantly lower than the control group. It is of clinical interest that preoperative steroids administration before major surgery may reduce I/R injury, maintain coagulant/anticoagulant homeostasis, and reduce postoperative complications by modulating the inflammatory response. The human body reacts to surgical stimuli through various systemic responses including the endocrine, metabolic, coagulation, and immune systems. However, extended damage may result in an exaggerated systemic response with an overwhelming activation of immune cells and the release of various mediators of stress. [1][2][3] The systemic reaction to the operation is considered to be equivalent to the systemic inflammation response syndrome, mainly caused by cytokine networks. 4,5 Raised levels of inflammatory cytokines have been related to higher postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. 2,3,6 Therefore, increased attention has evolved toward modulating potentially deleterious inflammatory response to the operation.The anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects of steroids have been known for decades and have found extensive therapeutic use in a wide range of diseases in which inflammatory responses play major role. 7,8 Several trials have investigated the benefits of administering corticosteroids as a modulator of cytokine response in patients undergoing elective cardiothoracic or gastrointestinal surgery, as well as in cases of septic shock, suggesting that several aspects of the surgical stress responses, organ dysfunction, and postAbbreviations: POD, postoperative day; ALT, alanine aminotr...

Concurrent resection of hepatic and EHD in well-selected patients may provide the possibility of long-term survival. The risk of recurrence, however, remains high, and a worse outcome is associated with both number of metastases and location of EHD.

Laparoscopic resection results in reduced operative blood loss and earlier recovery with oncologic clearance and operative time comparable with open surgery. Laparoscopic liver surgery may be considered the approach of choice for tumors located in the left hepatic lobe.