A thoracic epidural catheter (T8-10) was placed in group E. A bolus of 8ml 1% lidocaine with 0.375% ropivacaine was administered 15min before skin incision, followed by 5-8 ml/hr infusion during surgery in group E.

Postoperative analgesia by PCEA in group E (concentration: 0.1% ropivacaine + 0.1μg/ml sufentanil, loading dose: 4ml, infusion rate: 8ml/hr, bolus: 4ml, 1hr limit: 16ml) and lasting for 48hr and PCIA in group G (concentration: 1μg/ml sufentanil, loading dose: 4ml, bolus: 2ml, 4hr limit: 30ml).

Both group received general anesthesia maintaining with 1-2% end tidal sevoflurane together with TCI of propofol (target plasma concentration, 2-3µg/ml), continuous infusion of remifentanil (0.10 - 0.20 μg/kg/min) and cis-atracurium intermittently as needed.

intraoperative outcome including operation time, liver resection time, estimated blood loss, urine output, etc during operation. PACU recovery, pain score, liver and gastrointestinal function, hospital stay time,etc assessed.

Before operation, right after operation(0), and 3hr, 12hr, 24hr, 72hrs after operation, blood glucose and insulin was measured.

Before operation and 0, 3hr, 12hr, 24hr, D3, D5 after operation, serum IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β by microassay.