[Intraoperative EEG monitoring in hemihepatectomies]

End-stage liver diseases are correlated with specific EEG changes. In chronic liver diseases normal EEG excludes hepatic encephalopathy. To date, it is not known at what time EEG changes appear in liver dysfunction and whether they are to be seen during the unhepatic phase in hemihepatectomies. To clarify this, we analyzed EEGs in 10 patients during hemihepatectomies with the CATEEM system. During the hemihepatectomies an occlusion of the liver hilus for 20-38 minutes (on average 28 minutes) was necessary. During and after the occlusion we found no changes in EEG. We conclude that brief failure of liver function under general anaesthesia is tolerated without danger to the central nervous system.