Case scenario: postoperative liver failure after liver resection in a cirrhotic patient.

H EPATIC resection for malignant liver tumors improves overall survival. However, liver surgery continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A combination of careful patient selection, meticulous operative technique and specialized perioperative care is required to achieve low perioperative mortality (less than 5%) even in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma resections in cirrhotic patients. Postoperative hepatic failure (POLF) is one of the most serious complications following liver surgery with a mortality that can exceed 70%. The aim of this case scenario is to highlight the perioperative management of POLF after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patient with cirrhosis.