Use of pre-operative steroids in liver resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: By attenuating the systemic inflammatory response to major surgery, the pre-operative administration of steroids may reduce the incidence of complications. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing pre-operative steroid administration with placebo during a liver resection. Meta-analyses were performed. Results: Five RCTs were identified including a total of 379 patients. Pre-operative steroids were associated with statistically significant reductions in the levels of serum bilirubin and interleukin 6 (IL-6) on post-operative day one. There was a trend towards a lower incidence of post-operative complications and prothrombin time (PT), but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Pre-operative steroids may be associated with a clinically significant benefit in liver resection.