ABSTRACT
Recent reports highlight the reduced mortality and morbidity rates of liver resection in the last decades. The authors report on the surgical techniques and perioperative management that have yielded a low mortality and morbidity rates. One hundred consecutive liver resections carried out from 1997 to 2005 were reviewed. Data were collected retrospectively. The indications for liver resection were malignant tumors in 73%. Major liver resection was performed in 52%. Overall, 42.5% of liver resections were performed without vascular clamping and 57% of liver resections were performed without blood transfusions. There was no intraoperative death and the overall mortality rate was 1%. The major complications rate was 28% and was related to the extent of resection. The mean length of hospital stay was 12 days. The current series shows that with accurate preoperative evaluation, standardization of the surgical technique, appropriate use of vascular clamping method, and vigilant postoperative monitoring, an in-hospital mortality of 1% was achieved in a series where more than 50% of patients underwent a major hepatectomy