The impact of glucocorticoids for cirrhosis patients performed major liver resection: a retrospective control study.

Background/aims: Research on the influence of pre-operation usage of steroids for liver cirrhosis patients performed major liver resection (=3 segments).

Methodology: In total, 741 cirrhosis patients who underwent major hepatectomy (>3 segments) in our medical center were selected for the study. One hundred and five out of 741 patients used 500 mg methylprednisolone between half an hour and one hour before operation and were enrolled in the steroids group. The other 636 patients without steroid injection were assigned in the control group. Our analysis compared the data of bilirubin, ALT, AST, postoperative PT, complications, mortality, IL-6, average length of hospitalization and the like.

Results: Blood sample test showed level of bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and prothrombin time (PT), IL-6 were significantly lower in the steroids group than the control group in the postoperative days. There were no differences of mortality, morbidity and length of stay between the two groups.

Conclusions: Methylprednisolone used in preoperative period could degrade the bilirubin and IL-6 level safely and effectively after operation but does not reduce the mortality and the average hospital stay for liver sclerotic patients with normal liver function with slight side effects; it may have positive clinical effects for marginal liver patients.