[Effect of prostaglandin E1 on arterial ketone body ratio during and after hepatectomy].

We evaluated the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) in patients undergoing hepatectomy. Sixteen patients were divided into two groups. In the PGE1 group (n = 8), 0.02-0.05 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of PGE1 was administrated intravenously throughout the operation. In the control group (n = 8) patients were not given PGE1. AKBR decreased significantly during the operation; the decrease was in the same degree in both groups. Although AKBR rose in both groups after the operation, it returned more rapidly to the normal level in the PGE1 group compared with the control group. On the third postoperative day, the value of AKBR in the PGE1 group was significantly higher than that of the control group. These findings suggest that the intraoperative administration of PGE1 is valuable for protection against postoperative hepatic dysfunction induced by hepatectomy.