Local anaesthetic wound infiltration combined with patient-controlled opiate analgesia reduces the length of time required to fulfil criteria for discharge from hospital compared with epidural analgesia following open liver resection. Epidural analgesia provides superior analgesia, but does not confer benefits in terms of faster mobilization or recovery.

This study confirms a relationship between CVP and blood loss in hepatic resection. Intraoperative CVP values were higher than those described in other studies. There was variation in the intraoperative management of patients. Collaboration between surgical and anaesthesia teams is required to minimize blood loss and the standardization of intraoperative anaesthesia practice may improve outcomes following liver surgery.

Epidural analgesia provided inadequate postoperative pain relief in approximately 20% of liver resection patients and was associated with the administration of significantly greater volumes of i.v. colloid solution.

A surgical sciences e-learning program designed to support academic development of trainees in the early years of surgical training was associated with improved success in surgical trainees' professional examination, positive student feedback, and significant academic attainment.

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