Hepatic disease

This chapter describes the anaesthetic management of the patient with liver disease and its sequelae. Acute liver failure and chronic liver failure are discussed, together with their anaesthetic implications on coagulation and drug metabolism. Major sequelae of liver disease are discussed, including portal hypertension, varices, and hepatorenal syndrome. The pre-operative investigation and optimisation, treatment, and anaesthetic management of the patient with liver failure are described. The investigation and management of postoperative liver dysfunction are described.