BACKGROUND: Lowering central venous pressure (CVP) can decrease blood loss during liver resection and it is associated with improved outcomes. Multiple CVP reducing maneuvers have been described, but direct comparison of their effectiveness and safety has never been performed.
METHODS: Patients undergoing resections of 2 or more liver segments were equally randomized to absolute fluid restriction (AR, N = 17) or relative volume redistribution group (RR, N = 17). The ease of reaching low CVP, blood loss, morbidity and mortality were assessed.
Besides, the effect of Pringle maneuver and utility of stroke volume variation (SVV) were analyzed. RESULTS: Both methods of CVP reduction were equally effective (0.7 +- 0.9 vs. 0.9 +- 1. protocolized steps in the AR and RR group; p=0.356) and safe (no difference in observed blood loss, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, lactate levels, morbidity and mortality).
Patients in the AR group received smaller amount of fluids in the pre-resection period (120 (100-150) vs. 600 (500-700) ml; p10% with 81.4% sensitivity and 77.1% specificity. Reduced blood loss and transfusion rate was observed when Pringle maneuver was used.
CONCLUSIONS: In our study, absolute fluid restriction and relative volume redistribution seemed to be equally effective and safe methods of lowering CVP in patients undergoing liver resection. According to our data high SVV might be considered as a low CVP replacement.
Pringle maneuver reduced blood loss and transfusion requirement.