[Cirrhosis and surgical risk]

Major surgery in cirrhotic patient is associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. This risk increases with the disease severity. Cirrhosis generates a wide variety of organ dysfunctions including hemostasis abnormalities, cardiocirculatory and renal dysfunctions. These modifications facilitate postoperative complications. Postoperative morbidity includes surgical site complications such as sepsis or haemorrhage and organ complications such as pneumonia, kidney injury, hepatic failure or ascite. Perioperative care in cirrhotic patient can probably be improved by various techniques such as perioperative nutritional support, intraoperative hemodynamic optimization and close postoperative monitoring. Optimal perioperative care of patients with endstage liver disease necessitates collaboration between anesthesiologists, hepatologists and surgeons in charge of the patient. Indeed, they should be aware of any discussion about possible liver transplantation.