A prospective study of changes in liver function after operation under two forms of general anaesthesia.

The liver function of 65 patients was studied before and after operation under general anaesthesia. The liver function test used was a modified bromsulphthalein (b.s.p.) test which provided quantitative values for several parameters of liver function. The effects of two types of general anaesthetic were compared. One anaesthetic technique involved the administration of halothane to the spontaneously breathing patient, and the other used anaesthesia with nitrous oxide, oxygen and tubocurarine with controlled pulmonary ventilation. No significant difference was detected between the effects of these two anaesthetics on postoperative liver function. A specific pattern of change was found for each liver function parameter when the results of all the patients were collectively analyzed. A high preoperative alcohol consumption, and low oxygen tension during the anaesthetic were followed by a greater degree of postoperative liver dysfunction which just reached significant levels. No correlation was found between postoperative liver dysfunction and arterial carbon dioxide tension or blood pressure during the anaesthetic, or preoperative illness.