Activation of reticuloendothelial function for prevention of endotoxemia after hepatectomy in cirrhotic patients.

In order to prevent endotoxemia after hepatectomy in cirrhotic patients, we administered OK-432 before and after hepatectomy to activate the reticuloendothelial function and studied its effect on postoperative endotoxemia. In the cirrhotic group without OK-432 administration (7 patients), the value of endotoxin increased significantly after hepatectomy, compared to the cirrhotic group which received OK-432 administration (5 patients) and the non-cirrhotic group (12 patients), and the endotoxin level was still higher than the preoperative value even on the 14th day. On the other hand, the cirrhotic group with OK-432 administration and the non-cirrhotic group showed minimal increases of endotoxin levels at the first day, which returned to the preoperative values at the third day. Base on these findings, it is suggested that activation of the reticuloendothelial function bears substantial significance as one of the therapeutic modalities for prevention of endotoxemia after hepatectomy in cirrhotic patients.