Analgesia for Donor Hepatectomy: Recent Perspectives

Donor hepatectomy is a complex surgical procedure associated with significant postoperative pain, which can impact both short-term recovery and long-term outcomes. Adequate pain management plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of the living liver donor and optimising their overall experience. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current practices and emerging strategies in analgesic management for donor hepatectomy. To find relevant material, searches were conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar. The evaluation took into consideration review articles, clinical trials, retrospective studies, observational studies, and case-control studies. The conventional approach to pain control involves a multimodal strategy combining opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and regional anaesthesia techniques. However, concerns regarding opioid-related side effects and potential complications have prompted a re-evaluation of analgesic protocols. Alternative methods such as thoracic epidural analgesia, transversus abdominis plane blocks and continuous wound infusion systems have gained attention for their potential to minimise opioid requirements and enhance recovery. Recent advancements in the field of pain management, including the utilisation of enhanced recovery, after surgery protocols, personalised analgesic regimens, and novel pharmaceutical agents, are explored in this review. Additionally, the impact of psychological factors and patient-centred care on postoperative pain experiences is discussed. The review concludes by emphasising the importance of tailoring analgesic strategies to individual patient needs and characteristics. It highlights the potential benefits of incorporating innovative approaches to enhance pain control, reduce opioid consumption and ultimately improve the overall outcome and satisfaction of living liver donors undergoing hepatectomy. Future directions in research and clinical practice are also suggested to further refine and optimise analgesic management in the context of donor hepatectomy.