It is well known that during hepatic operative procedures, it is often critical that the irrigation is interrupted to avoid possible bleeding, blood transfusions, variable intensities, and their short and long-term consequences. It was believed in the past that the flow interruption should not exceed 20 minutes, which limited the use of this maneuver. However, it has been postulated that ischemia could be maintained for more than 60 minutes in healthy livers. The present paper review includes: 1) A brief introduction to justify the rationale of the review design; 2) Aspects of the pathophysiology of the three stages of the liver ischemia-reperfusion injury; 3) The innate and acquired immunity; 4) Oxidative stress; 5) Apoptosis and autophagy, Some essential biomarkers (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, nitric oxide, metalloproteinases); and, finally; 6) Preventive ("cheating") strategies, non-pharmacological and pharmacological options to treat the liver IR injury.

In this process of periodic ischemia and reperfusion, hyperbaric pre-conditioning did not improve significantly hepatic mitochondrial function.

PURPOSE:To investigate the consequences of the association between hyperbaric oxygen therapy and hepatic ischemia / reperfusion. METHODS:Wistar rats were divided into three groups: SHAM, rats submitted to surgical stress and anesthetic but not hepatic ischemia or reperfusion, I / R, rats submitted to total hepatic pedicle ischemia for 30 min, followed by 5 min of reperfusion; HBO120, rats submitted to 120 min of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at two absolute atmospheres and immediately after submitted to the experimental protocol of ischemia and reperfusion. The preservation of the hepatic function was evaluated by determining mitochondrial swelling and malondialdehyde tissue level, as well as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotranferase serum levels. The results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and differences were considered significant for p<0.05. RESULTS:There were significant differences in values: mitochondrial swelling of the I / R group compared to SHAM and HBO120; malondialdehyde between SHAM vs. I / R, SHAM vs HBO120, and I / R vs HBO120, alanine aminotransferase between SHAM vs. I / R . There was no significant difference between groups in aspartate aminotransferase serum levels. CONCLUSION:The association between hyperbaric oxygen therapy and hepatic ischemia and reperfusion process was positive.

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PURPOSE:To analyze the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on liver function in rats previously subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: A randomly distribution of 23 Wistar rats was conducted into three groups: SHAM, animals subjected to surgical stress without restricting blood flow by clamping the hepatic pedicle, IR, rats underwent hepatic vascular occlusion intermittently for two complete cycles of 15 minutes of ischemia followed by 5 min of reperfusion, IR / HBO, rats underwent hepatic pedicle clamping and thereafter exposed to hyperbaric oxygen pressure of 2 absolute atmospheres for 60 minutes. We evaluated liver function through mitochondrial function, determined by the stages 3 and 4 of respiration, respiratory control ratio (RCR) and mitochondrial permeability transition (Swelling). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were also quantified . We analyzed the results using the Mann-Whitney test and were considered significant all results with p <0.05. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the results of stage 3 in SHAM vs IR group ; of the stage 4 in the groups IR vs SHAM and SHAM vs IR /HBO; of the Respiratory Control Ratio (RCR) in the group IR vs IR / HBO ; of alanine aminotransferase in the groups IR vs SHAM , SHAM vs IR/HBO and IR vs IR / HBO; aspartate aminotransferase in the groups SHAM vs IR and SHAM vs IR / HBO. CONCLUSION: The whole analysis of the mitochondiral function indicators permits us to conclude that the hyperbaric oxygen therapy acted as a protective agent of the mitochondrial function, minimizing the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the hepatic parenchyma. Key words: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Mitochondria. Liver Ischemia. Reperfusion. RESUMO OBJETIVO:Analisar os efeitos da oxigenoterapia hiperbárica sobre a função hepática de ratos previamente submetidos à isquemia e reperfusão. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se a distribuição aleatória de 23 ratos Wistar em três grupos: SHAM, animais submetidos ao estresse cirúrgico sem restrição de fluxo sanguíneo por clampeamento do pedículo hepático; IR ratos submetidos a oclusão vascular hepática de maneira intermitente em dois ciclos completos de 15 minutos de isquemia, seguidos por 5 min de reperfusão; IR/HBO, ratos submetidos ao clampeamento do pedículo hepático e ,ulteriormente , expostos a oxigenoterapia hiperbárica a pressão de 2 atmosferas absolutas durante 60 minutos. Avaliou-se a função hepática através da função mitocondrial, determinada pelos estados 3 e 4 da respiração mitocondrial, razão de controle respiratório(RCR) e transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial (Swelling) .Quantificou-se também alanina aminotransferase e aspartato aminotransferase séricas. Analisou-se os resultados pelo teste de Mann-Whitney e foram considerados significativos os valores de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS:Houve diferença significativa nos valores do estado 3 no grupo SHAM vs IR; estado 4 nos grupos SHAM vs IR, SHAM vsIR/HBO; Razão de Controle Respiratório(RCR) no grupo IR vs IR/HBO; alanina aminotransferase n...