BACKGROUND: The most common cause of postoperative hepatic dysfunction is decreased hepatic blood flow due to decreased cardiac output and vasoactive substance during anesthesia. It might be suggested that hepatic blood flow occlusion affects postoperative dysfunction. This study was designed to investigate this possible effect on postoperative liver function. METHODS: Forty-seven patients; hepatic resection with temporarily hepatic vascular occlusion (Pringle's maneuver) under enflurane anesthesia were involved. The duration of liver ischemia was 44.2 20.0 min. Blood transfusions (8.3 5.1 pints) were administered to nine patients intraoperatively. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total bilirubin (TB) were measured at preoperation, postoperative 6 hours, 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) was measured also but not at postoperative 6 hrs. RESULTS: The values of postoperative AST, ALT, LDH were increased sharply but returned at postoperative 7th day. AP did not change significantly. TB levels rose for 7 days postoperatively and then fell. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is inferred that the effect of hepatic ischemic insult under enflurane anesthesia on postoperative liver function is not significant.