Functional Liver Recovery After Major Hepatectomy: Integrating Hemodynamic Optimization and Oxidative Stress
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Functional Assessment of the Future Liver Remnant
3. Hemodynamic Determinants of Liver Recovery
3.1. Hemodynamic Stability and Microcirculation
3.2. Hemodynamic Goals and Anesthetic Management
4. Oxidative Stress and Redox Regulation
4.1. Pathophysiology of Oxidative Stress
4.2. Dynamic Balance Between Oxidative and Regenerative Response
4.3. Surgical and Pharmacologic Strategies for Reperfusion Control
4.4. Metabolic and Antioxidant Support
4.5. Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress
5. Functional Markers of Liver Recovery
5.1. Biochemical Tests: Indicators of Hepatocellular Injury
5.2. Functional Tests: Dynamic Assessment of Hepatic Capacity
5.3. Dynamics of Functional Recovery
6. Integrated Model of Liver Recovery
6.1. The Molecular Level
6.2. The Functional Level
6.3. The Clinical Level
6.4. Integrative Concept
7. Conclusions and Future Directions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Cieslak, K.P.; Huisman, F.; Bais, T.; Bennink, R.J.; van Lienden, K.P.; Verheij, J.; Besselink, M.G.; Busch, O.R.; van Gulik, T.M. Future remnant liver function as predictive factor for the hypertrophy response after portal vein embolization. Surgery 2017, 162, 37–47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Nakajima, T.; Ikuta, S.; Aihara, T.; Ikuta, L.; Matsuki, G.; Fujikawa, M.; Ichise, N.; Okamoto, R.; Nakamoto, Y.; Yanagi, H.; et al. Intraoperatively measured prehepatectomy portal vein pressure as a useful predictor of posthepatectomy liver failure. Langenbeck’s Arch. Surg. 2024, 409, 314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Primavesi, F.; Maglione, M.; Cipriani, F.; Denecke, T.; Oberkofler, C.E.; Starlinger, P.; Dasari, B.V.M.; Heil, J.; Sgarbura, O.; Søreide, K.; et al. E-AHPBA–ESSO–ESSR Innsbruck consensus guidelines for preoperative liver function assessment before hepatectomy. Br. J. Surg. 2023, 110, 1331–1347. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central]
- Lim, J.S.H.; Shelat, V.G. Liver resection, and technical advances to mitigate post-hepatectomy liver failure. Hepatobiliary Surg. Nutr. 2024, 13, 366–369. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central]
- Lauber, D.T.; Tihanyi, D.K.; Czigány, Z.; Kovács, T.; Budai, A.; Drozgyik, D.; Fülöp, A.; Szijártó, A. Liver regeneration after different degrees of portal vein ligation. J. Surg. Res. 2016, 203, 451–458. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Baumgartner, R.; Gilg, S.; Björnsson, B.; Hasselgren, K.; Ghorbani, P.; Sauter, C.; Stål, P.; Sandstöm, P.; Sparrelid, E.; Engstrand, J. Impact of post-hepatectomy liver failure on morbidity and short- and long-term survival after major hepatectomy. BJS Open 2022, 6, zrac097. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central]
- Michalopoulos, G.K.; Bhushan, B. Liver regeneration: Biological and pathological mechanisms and implications. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2021, 18, 40–55. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- de Rougemont, O.; Dutkowski, P.; Clavien, P.-A. Biological modulation of liver ischemia–reperfusion injury. Curr. Opin. Organ Transplant. 2010, 15, 183–189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Abshagen, K.; Eipel, C.; Vollmar, B. A critical appraisal of the hemodynamic signal driving liver regeneration. Langenbeck’s Arch. Surg. 2012, 397, 579–590. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Rahbari, N.N.; Garden, O.J.; Padbury, R.; Brooke-Smith, M.; Crawford, M.; Adam, R.; Koch, M.; Makuuchi, M.; Dematteo, R.P.; Christophi, C.; et al. Posthepatectomy liver failure: A definition and grading by the International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS). Surgery 2011, 149, 713–724. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- de Graaf, W.; Bennink, R.J.; Veteläinen, R.; van Gulik, T.M. Nuclear imaging techniques for the assessment of hepatic function in liver surgery and transplantation. J. Nucl. Med. 2010, 51, 742–752. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kohli, V.; Selzner, M.; Madden, J.F.; Bentley, R.C.; Clavien, P.-A. Endothelial cell and hepatocyte deaths occur by apoptosis after ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat liver. Transplantation 1999, 67, 1099–1105. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Clavien, P.-A.; Petrowsky, H.; DeOliveira, M.L.; Graf, R. Strategies for safer liver surgery and partial liver transplantation. N. Engl. J. Med. 2007, 356, 1545–1559. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Peralta, C.; Jiménez-Castro, M.B.; Gracia-Sancho, J. Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury: Effects on the liver sinusoidal milieu. J. Hepatol. 2013, 59, 1094–1106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Broek, M.A.J.V.D.; Damink, S.W.M.O.; Dejong, C.H.C.; Lang, H.; Malagó, M.; Jalan, R.; Saner, F.H. Liver failure after partial hepatic resection: Definition, pathophysiology, risk factors and treatment. Liver Int. 2008, 28, 767–780. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gracia-Sancho, J.; Caparrós, E.; Fernández-Iglesias, A.; Francés, R. Role of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in liver diseases. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2021, 18, 411–431. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tarantino, G.; Conca, P.; Capone, D.; Gentile, A.; Polichetti, G.; Basile, V. Reliability of total overnight salivary caffeine assessment (TOSCA) for liver function evaluation in compensated cirrhotic patients. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 2006, 62, 605–612. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Golriz, M.; Majlesara, A.; El Sakka, S.; Ashrafi, M.; Arwin, J.; Fard, N.; Raisi, H.; Edalatpour, A.; Mehrabi, A. Small for Size and Flow (SFSF) syndrome: An alternative description for posthepatectomy liver failure. Clin. Res. Hepatol. Gastroenterol. 2016, 40, 267–275. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Jonas, J.P.; Müller, P.C.; Linecker, M.; Hackl, H.; Santol, J.; Eshmuminov, D.; Rössler, F.; Ammann, M.; Ignatavicius, P.; Guidetti, C.; et al. Optimization of ALPPS stage II timing with the APRI/ALBI score—An international, multicenter cohort study. Hepatobiliary Surg. Nutr. 2025, 14, 742–754. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yagi, S.; Uemoto, S. Small-for-size syndrome in living donor liver transplantation. Hepatobiliary Pancreat. Dis. Int. 2012, 11, 570–576. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Eshkenazy, R.; Dreznik, Y.; Lahat, E.; Bar Zakai, B.; Zendel, A.; Ariche, A. Small for size liver remnant following resection: Prevention and management. Hepatobiliary Surg. Nutr. 2014, 3, 303–312. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [PubMed Central]
- Forbes, S.J.; Newsome, P.N. Liver regeneration—Mechanisms and models to clinical application. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2016, 13, 473–485. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]



| Markers | What It Measures | Clinical Availability | Evidence Level | Proposed Threshold/Interpretation | Potential Clinical Implication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSPG | Balance between portal inflow and hepatic outflow | Not routinely available; no standardized method | Conceptual/emerging | ~5–8 mmHg (proposed physiological range, not yet clinically validated) | May support individualized hemodynamic interpretation |
| MAP | Systemic perfusion pressure | Routinely available | Moderate | ≥65 mmHg (minimum target, may require individualization) | Maintenance of organ perfusion |
| CVP | Venous congestion and hepatic outflow resistance | Routinely available | Moderate | Lower CVP may reduce hepatic congestion, particularly during parenchymal transection | May reduce hepatic congestion |
| ICG-PDR | Dynamic liver function and perfusion | Available in specialized centers | Moderate–high | >15–18%/min (approximate functional threshold) | Functional assessment of liver recovery |
| Factor V | Synthetic liver function | Routinely available | Moderate | Decline reflects reduced synthetic capacity and may indicate liver dysfunction | Early indicator of dysfunction |
| MDA | Lipid peroxidation (oxidative stress) | Research setting | Low | No standardized threshold; elevated levels reflect oxidative injury | Research marker of oxidative injury |
| GSH/GSSG ratio | Redox balance | Research setting | Low | No standardized threshold; reflects systemic redox balance | Indicator of antioxidant capacity |
| SOD activity | Antioxidant enzyme activity | Research setting | Low | No standardized threshold; reflects antioxidant response capacity | Reflects oxidative stress response |
| Level | Dominant Processes | Recovery Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular | Oxidative stress, (ROS), restoration of antioxidant defense (GSH and SOD), activation of IL-6 and TNF-α signaling | Decrease in MDA, increase in GSH and SOD |
| Functional | Perfusion balance, microcirculatory stability, hepatocyte regeneration | PSPG 5–8 mmHg (reported range), increase in Factor V, ICG-PDR |
| Clinical | Stabilization of metabolic and synthetic functions | Decrease in bilirubin and lactate, normalization of INR |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Share and Cite
Silić, V.; Romić, I.; Pavlović, D.B.; Pavlek, G.; Redžepi, G.; Kinda, E. Functional Liver Recovery After Major Hepatectomy: Integrating Hemodynamic Optimization and Oxidative Stress. J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15, 3494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093494
Silić V, Romić I, Pavlović DB, Pavlek G, Redžepi G, Kinda E. Functional Liver Recovery After Major Hepatectomy: Integrating Hemodynamic Optimization and Oxidative Stress. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026; 15(9):3494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093494
Chicago/Turabian StyleSilić, Vanja, Ivan Romić, Daniela Bandić Pavlović, Goran Pavlek, Gzim Redžepi, and Emil Kinda. 2026. "Functional Liver Recovery After Major Hepatectomy: Integrating Hemodynamic Optimization and Oxidative Stress" Journal of Clinical Medicine 15, no. 9: 3494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093494
APA StyleSilić, V., Romić, I., Pavlović, D. B., Pavlek, G., Redžepi, G., & Kinda, E. (2026). Functional Liver Recovery After Major Hepatectomy: Integrating Hemodynamic Optimization and Oxidative Stress. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(9), 3494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093494

