Biology, physiology and physiopathology of clamping during liver surgery

Liver surgery is currently performed with minimal morbidity and mortality, mostly thanks to reduced intraoperative blood loss, achievable by various types of liver clamping. A better knowledge of the physiological and physiopathological changes caused by liver clamping is however still necessary. The "natural" evolution of biochemical and liver function tests after liver surgery have been described. This paper describes the hemodynamic changes observed with different types of clamping and discusses several ways in which liver clamping techniques might be improved.