Liver failure following partial hepatectomy

While major liver resections have become increasingly safe due to better understanding of anatomy and refinement of operative techniques, liver failure following partial hepatectomy still occurs from time to time and remains incompletely understood. Observationally, certain high-risk circumstances exist, namely, massive resection with small liver remnants, preexisting liver disease, and advancing age, where liver failure is more likely to happen. Upon review of available clinical and experimental studies, an interplay of factors such as impaired regeneration, oxidative stress, preferential triggering of apoptotic pathways, decreased oxygen availability, heightened energy-dependent metabolic demands, and energy-consuming inflammatory stimuli work to produce failing hepatocellular functions.