Objective To compare the severity of kidney injury following liver transplantation performed under sevoflurane versus propofol combined anesthesia in patients.Methods Fifty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 40-64 yr,weighing 47-85 kg,scheduled for elective orthotopic liver transplantation,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =25 each) ∶ propofol combined anesthesia group (group P) and sevoflurane combined anesthesia group (group Se).During maintenance of anesthesia,propofol was given by target-controlled infusion and the target plasma concentration was 2-4 μg/ml in group P,and sevoflurane was continuously inhaled and the endtidal concentration was maintained at 1.0％-3.0％ in group Se.Venous blood samples and urine specimens were taken immediately before skin incision (T0),at 30 min after occlusion of the inferior vena cava (T1),at 30 min of neohepatic phase (T2),at the end of surgery (T3),and at 1,3 and 5 days after operation (T4-6) for determination of serum concentrations of creatinine (Cr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and urinary β2-MG concentrations.Results Compared with group P,the serum concentrations of Cr,BUN and β2-MG and urinary β2-MG concentrations were significantly lower at T3,4 in group Se (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion The severity of kidney injury is reduced in patients undergoing liver transplantation performed under sevoflurane combined anesthesia compared with that under propofol combined anesthesia.