Liver ischemia/reperfusion injury: an overview

J Invest Surg. 2014 Dec;27(6):366-79. doi: 10.3109/08941939.2014.932473. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Abstract

The present review discusses strategies for minimizing the ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) experienced during liver surgery and transplantation. We present the experimental models used to study the complexity of hepatic IRI and new surgical and pharmacologic strategies for manipulating and improving liver function after liver surgery and transplantation. This would be of clinical interest to reduce the prevalence of IRI and improve patient management and outcomes. The ongoing effort to expand the pool of usable liver grafts has made it clear that a better understanding of the mechanisms of IRI and other consequences of using expanded criteria donor (ECD) liver allografts are critical to improving results with these grafts.

Keywords: Transplantation;; ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI); liver surgery;.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Hepatectomy / adverse effects*
  • Infusion Pumps
  • Liver / blood supply*
  • Liver / surgery
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Models, Animal
  • Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Reperfusion Injury / etiology*
  • Reperfusion Injury / prevention & control*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Protease Inhibitors