BACKGROUND Inadequate pain control after abdominal procedures might result in increased morbidity, length of stay, and delay in overall recovery. Epidural analgesia is currently an accepted technique in major abdominal surgery [1-4]. Postoperative coagulation disturbances related to liver surgery, even in patients with normal preoperative coagulation undergoing uncomplicated hepatectomy, raises concerns about the safety of postoperative analgesia administered through an epidural catheter. Coagulation changes after liver surgery and the possible increased risk of bleeding complications, including spinal hematoma, have limited the use of epidural analgesia [5-7].