title: Posthepatectomy liver failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is one of the most serious complications after liver resection and is still reported in up to 8% after liver resection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview about the current status of risk analysis and definition of PHLF. Prevention and treatment is also discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was carried out on PubMed using the terms 'liver failure', 'posthepatectomy' and 'liver surgery' to search relevant papers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PHLF remains a serious problem in patients undergoing major liver resection. Adequate preoperative risk assessment and an optimal postoperative treatment are essential for PHLF prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreckenbach
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liese
authors.forename: Wolf O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Bechstein
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moench
mesh_terms: D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors