Sepsis after Liver Resection: Predisposition, Clinical Relevance and Synergism with Liver Dysfunction

Liver resection, compared with other abdominal operations, is characterized by greater predisposition to septic complications. This may be explained by several factors, including the major role of the liver in immune defence, anatomical features such as the close relation­ ship of the hepato-biliary system with the intestine, underlying liver disease if present and specific preoperative treatments favouring postoperative sepsis.