Hepatic arterial and portal venous oxygen content and extraction in liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT— We examined the oxygen content in the hepatic arterial, hepatic venous and portal venous blood to evaluate the oxygen supply to the liver and hepatic oxygen extraction in cirrhosis. The arterial-portal venous difference of the oxygen content was within the normal range in cirrhosis patients, although the oxygen content of the hepatic artery and portal vein was lower than in the control patients. The hepatic venous oxygen content was normal in the cirrhosis patients. The oxygen tension and saturation were always higher in the splenic vein than in the other branches of the portal system. Oxygen was supplied chiefly by the hepatic artery, and arterial oxygen extraction was normal in cirrhosis. In addition, there was no change in arterial extraction during oxygen inhalation by cirrhosis patients. Portal venous oxygen extraction was decreased in cirrhosis and was increased by oxygen inhalation. These findings indicate the autoregulation of hepatic oxygen through a mutual relationship between the hepatic arterial and the portovenous oxygen supply.     

Portal vein arterialization technique for liver transplantation patients

Liver transplantations were performed on two patients with hepatic failure caused by liver cirrhosis. Hard obsolete thrombi and portal venous sclerosis were observed in the major portal veins of both patients. The arteria colica media of one recipient and the portal vein of the donor were anastomosed end-to-end. The hepatic artery of the first donor was anastomosed end-to end with the gastroduodenal artery of the first recipient; meanwhile, the portal vein of the second donor was simultaneously anastomosed end- to-end with the common hepatic artery of the second recipient. The blood flow of the portal vein, the perfusion of the donor liver and liver function were satisfactory after surgery. Portal vein arterialization might be an effective treatment for patients whose portal vein reconstruction was difficult.     

Relationship between Peripheral Portal Blood Flow and Liver Function in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: Pulsed Doppler Ultrasonographic Study

Nishihara K, Sakata K, Yagyu T, Nakashima K, Suzuki T. Relationship between peripheral portal blood flow and liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis. Pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic study. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:859-864.

Background: The relationship between portal hemodynamics and liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis remains unclear. Methods: Using pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, we investigated portal hemodynamics in the trunk and the intrahepatic peripheral vessels and its relation to liver function in cirrhotic patients. Results: The portal blood flow in the right anterior branch (RAB) in cirrhotic patients (n equals; 40) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that in normal subjects (n equals; 40). In the cirrhotic patients the portal blood flow in the RAB was significantly correlated with the values of serum albumin, total bilirubin, cholesterol, cholinesterase, prothrombin time, and ICG R-15, and that in group C (Child's grading) was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) compared with that in group A. No such difference was found in the main portal vein, the right posterior branch, or the umbilical portion of the left portal vein. Conclusions: The decrease in blood flow in the RAB is closely related to the impairment of liver function in cirrhotic patients.     

The Influence of Flow and Hematocrit on the Laser Doppler Flux Signal from the Surface of the Perfused Pig Liver

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that the measurement volume of the laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) is too small to provide reliable quantitative estimates of total liver blood flow of large mammals, such as the pig. Methods: In a perfused pig liver, the influence of changing (i) hepatic arterial (HA) and portal venous flows individually (n = 9), (ii) HA flow at fixed portal venous flow (50%, 70%, and 100% expected total liver blood flow), and (iii) hematocrit (0–30%) at fixed total liver blood flow on LDF flux was tested (n = 8). Results: Linearity of LDF with hepatic arterial flow and portal venous flow was confirmed; however, the slope of the regression lines was higher for hepatic artery [1.92 ± 0.60 (SD)] than portal vein perfused livers (0.66 ± 0.34; P < 0.001). With portal venous flow at 50% and 70% total liver blood flow, changing hepatic arterial flow produced linear LDF versus flow responses, but at 100% total liver blood flow, linearity was achieved in only 6/9 livers. The coefficient of variation for the slopes of regression lines was always > 30%. At constant total liver blood flow (100 ml/min per 100 g), LDF response decreased linearly by a factor of about 2 on changing the hematocrit from 30% to 5% and markedly fell as the hematocrit was further decreased to zero. Conclusions: These results suggest that (i) the LDF flux signal from the liver surface provides a poor measure of hepatic microcirculatory blood flow during changes in total liver blood flow as the LDF responds with about three times greater sensitivity to changes in hepatic arterial than in portal venous flow, and (ii) when hematocrit is falling, LDF may underestimate hepatic perfusion to a significant extent. In addition, due to high measurement variability, the LDF flux signal cannot be quantified in absolute perfusion units.     

Effects of nifedipine on hepatic venous pressure gradient and portal vein blood flow in patients with cirrhosis

Abstract We investigated the effects of nifedipine on splanchnic haemodynamics in 13 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and in 10 control subjects using hepatic venous catheterization and pulsed Doppler ultrasound. There were no significant changes in systemic or splanchnic haemodynamics in control patients. In contrast, systemic vascodilatation, evidenced by significant decreases in mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance, was observed in patients 20 min after sublingual application of 10 mg nifedipine. Moreover, hepatic venous pressure gradient and portal vein blood flow significantly increased after nifedipine administration. There was a significant correlation between the percentage increases in portal vein blood flow and in hepatic venous pressure gradient. However, no correlation was found between the percentage change in cardiac output and that in portal vein blood flow. Thus the increase in portal vein blood flow appears to be related to splanchnic arterial vasodilatation by nifedipine. Consequently, nifedipine has deleterious effects on portal haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis. As nifedipine may potentially increase the risk of variceal haemorrhage in patients with less advanced varices, this drug should be used with caution in patients with chronic liver disease.     

Hepatic perfusion changes in patients with liver metastases: comparison with those patients with cirrhosis.

Previous studies using dynamic scintigraphy have shown that the measurement of changes in hepatic perfusion may be exploited to detect liver metastases. Similar hepatic haemodynamic changes also occur in cirrhosis, however, thereby reducing the diagnostic power of the technique. The ability of duplex colour Doppler sonography (DCDS) to differentiate between the changes in liver perfusion in patients with cirrhosis and those with hepatic metastases was assessed. Hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flows were measured in 30 control subjects, 20 patients with cirrhosis, and 55 patients with overt liver metastases. The Doppler perfusion index (DPI) (the rate of hepatic arterial to total liver blood flow) and the congestive index (ratio of the cross sectional area of the vessel to time averaged velocity of blood flow in the vessel) of the hepatic artery (HCI) and portal vein (PCI) were calculated. The hepatic arterial blood flow of the cirrhotic and metastatic groups was significantly raised compared with that of controls, and the portal venous blood flow of the former groups were reduced (p < 0.0001). The DPIs of the cirrhotic and metastatic groups were therefore significantly raised compared with those of controls (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was noted in HCI values between the three groups. The PCI values of the cirrhotic group, however, were significantly raised compared with those of controls and patients with metastases (p < 0.0001). The data suggest that DCDS measurement of PCI may be of value in differentiating between the hepatic perfusion changes caused by cirrhosis and those resulting from hepatic metastases, thereby increasing the diagnostic power of this technique.     

Different hemodynamic patterns of alcoholic and viral endstage cirrhosis: Analysis of explanted liver weight,degree of fibrosis and splanchnic Doppler parameters

Objective. In cirrhosis, portal hemodynamics is usually considered independently of the disease etiology. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the etiology of liver disease on the relationship between liver blood flow and liver pathology in endstage cirrhosis. Material and methods. Portal blood velocity and volume, congestion index of the portal vein, and hepatic and splenic pulsatility indices were evaluated with echo-Doppler in cirrhotic patients immediately before liver transplantation. When a patent paraumbilical vein was present, its blood flow was measured and effective portal liver perfusion was calculated as portal blood flow minus paraumbilical blood flow. The hemodynamic parameters were correlated with liver weight and the pattern of the liver fibrosis morphometrically assessed in explanted livers. A total of 131 patients with alcoholic or viral cirrhosis were included in the study. Results. In alcoholic cirrhosis, liver weight was higher than that in viral disease (1246±295 g versus 1070±254 g, p=0.001), portal liver perfusion per gram of liver tissue was lower (0.49±0.36 ml g^?1 min^?1 versus 0.85±0.56 ml g^?1 min^?1, p=0.004) and hepatic pulsatility indices were higher (1.45±0.31 versus 1.26±0.30, p=0.018). The degree of liver fibrosis was similar in alcoholic and viral cirrhosis (11.7±5.5% versus 11.0±4.4%, p=NS). An inverse relationship between liver weight and Child-Pugh score was disclosed in viral (p<0.001) but not in alcoholic disease. Conclusions. A different hemodynamic pattern characterizes the advanced stage of cirrhosis of alcoholic and viral origin. A more severe alteration of intrahepatic portal perfusion, probably coexisting with a more severe hepatocyte dysfunction, and a higher liver weight can be detected in alcoholic cirrhosis.     

Hepatic arterial blood flow in large hepatocellular carcinoma with or without portal vein thrombosis: assessment by transcutaneous duplex Doppler sonography

BACKGROUND: As liver cirrhosis progresses, the portal venous blood (PVBF) flow decreases, accompanied by an increase in hepatic arterial blood flow. Large hepatocellular carcinoma is a hypervascular tumour with a rapid growth, which seems to require an increase of the tumoral arterial blood flow. Furthermore, hepatocellular carcinoma is frequently associated with portal vein thrombosis, which subsequently impedes portal blood supply. METHODS: The purpose of our study was to estimate alterations in the hepatic arterial blood flow in large hepatocellular carcinomas occurring in liver cirrhosis, in comparison with liver cirrhosis and controls. Liver blood flow measurements were determined by duplex Doppler sonography in 47 patients with large hepatocellular carcinomas (13 with portal vein thrombosis and 34 without this thrombosis), 42 liver cirrhosis patients and 30 controls. The Doppler perfusion index was calculated as the ratio of hepatic arterial blood flow to total hepatic blood flow. RESULTS: The patients with liver cirrhosis had a significant increase of hepatic arterial blood flow as compared to controls (P < 0.001), accompanied by a significant reduction in PVBF (P < 0.005). As a result, the Doppler perfusion index was increased in patients with liver cirrhosis as compared to controls (P < 0.001). The hepatic arterial blood flow was increased in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but without portal vein thrombosis as compared to the cirrhotic patients (P < 0.001), with a significant reduction of PVBF (P < 0.001). Hepatic arterial blood flow was also increased in patients with both hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis as compared to the patients without this thrombosis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in large hepatocellular carcinomas there is a decreased PVBF, accompanied by an increased hepatic arterial blood flow. The hepatic arterial buffer response seems to be active in hepatocellular carcinomas and maintains liver perfusion to adequate levels.     

Relationship between pre-TIPS hepatic hemodynamics and postoperative incidence of hepatic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the complications that have limited the effectiveness of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) most significantly. Up to the present, the predicting factors of HE post-TIPS have been debated controversially. This study was undertaken to verify the relationship between pre-TIPS intrahepatic hemodynamics and the incidence of post-TIPS HE. METHODS: The hepatic blood dynamics was evaluated in 41 patients with liver cirrhosis before TIPS and at one month after TIPS by ultrasonography. The patients were divided into two groups according to Doppler findings before TIPS: group 1, patients with prograde portal flow, and group 2, patients with hepatofugal or back-forth portal flow. The clinical characteristics (age, sex, etiology of liver disease, pre-TIPS Child-Pugh score, incidence of pre-TIPS HE, and portacaval pressure gradient), incidence of post TIPS HE, and pre-/post-TIPS hepatic arterial resistant index (RI) in the two groups were compared. The independent prognostic value of pre-TIPS variables for the onset of HE after TIPS, including age, Child-Pugh score, presence of HE before TIPS, and the pattern of portal flow, was tested with a multiple-factor regression analysis. RESULTS: No significant difference in age, etiology of liver disease, indications of TIPS placement, incidence of HE before TIPS, and portacaval gradient before and after TIPS was observed between the two groups; but liver failure was more severe in group 2 (P<0.05). The incidence of post-TIPS HE in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 (P<0.01). Pre-TIPS, the RI of the hepatic artery in group 1 was significantly higher than that in group 2 (P<0.01). However, TIPS induced a significantly decreased RI in group 1 (P <0.01), but not in group 2. Multiple-factor regression analysis demonstrated that the pattern of portal flow before TIPS was closely associated with the onset of post TIPS HE. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-TIPS intrahepatic hetnodynamics is closely related to the incidence of post-TIPS HE. Hepatic hetnodynamics of patients with hepatofugal portal blood flow only changes a little after TIPS and still provides compensatory blood supply of the hepatic artery, and the hepatic function is less affected. Hence HE is unlikely. Hepatic hemodynamics of patients with prograde portal blood flow changes a lot after TIPS, and dual blood supply of the portal vein and hepatic artery changes into compensatory blood supply of the hepatic artery, and hepatic function suffers greatly in a short time. Thus HE is mostly likely.     

Effect of dobutamine on the arterial ketone body ratio and portal blood flow velocity in cirrhosis

ABSTRACT— We studied the relationship between the portal blood flow velocity and the arterial ketone body ratio in patients with chronic liver disease receiving a dobutamine infusion. We used an ultrasonic Doppler duplex system to evaluate the portal blood flow velocity. Dobutamine was given intravenously at 5 μg/kg/min for 20 min. Dobutamine infusion induced smaller changes in the portal blood flow velocity and ketone body ratio in liver cirrhosis than in chronic hepatitis. The existence of shunts and the poor increase of the cardiac index in response to dobutamine explained the limited improvement of portal blood flow velocity in cirrhosis patients. The ketone body ratio was improved by dobutamine in cirrhosis patients whose portal blood flow velocity was increased by more than 10%, while this ratio decreased when the increase of it was less than 10%. There was no change in portal oxygen extraction in the cirrhosis group, and portal oxygen uptake only increased when the portal blood flow velocity rose by more than 10%. Dobutamine should only be used to treat liver failure if the portal blood flow velocity is increased by more than 10% or the arterial ketone body ratio is improved by a test infusion.     

Hepatic radionuclide angiography and Doppler ultrasonography in the detection and assessment of vascular disturbances in the portal system

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was evaluation of the morphology of the blood vessels, blood flow velocity and direction with Doppler ultrasound (D-US) and correlation with the relative liver parenchymal perfusion assessed by hepatic radionuclide angiography (HRA). METHODOLOGY: Real-time, D-US and HRA were performed in 108 patients. RESULTS: In patients with portal venous aneurysm, hepatopetal blood flow was increased, while portal perfusion did not differ from controls. In portal hypertensive patients, D-US detected dilatation of the portal system veins, with decreased blood flow. In comparison to the portal perfusion in controls and portal venous aneurysm, values were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis and differed between themselves (p < 0.01). In the groups of cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices, sclerosed esophageal varices, recanalized umbilical vein, partial portal thrombosis and cavernous portal vein with hepatofugal, hyperkinetic or slow blood flow, and very low velocities beside the thrombi, portal perfusion was lower (p < 0.01) than in controls, portal venous aneurysm, chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis without collaterals. In complete thrombosis, minimal collateral flow was found with D-US, while HRA proved no portal supply. CONCLUSIONS: D-US and HRA are complementary for the estimation of various liver vascular disorders.     

Clinical and experimental study of effect of Raondix Salviae Militiorrhiza and other blood-activating and stasis-eliminating Chinese herbs on hemodynamics of portal hypertension

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Correlation of transcutaneous hepatic near-infrared spectroscopy readings with liver surface readings and perfusion parameters in a piglet endotoxemic shock model.

PURPOSE: To determine whether transcutaneous liver near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS) measurements correlate with NIRS measurements taken directly from the liver surface, and invasive blood flow measurements. PROCEDURE: Laparotomy was performed in 12 Yorkshire piglets, and ultrasound blood flow probes were placed on the hepatic artery and portal vein. Intravascular catheters were inserted into the hepatic and portal veins for intermittent blood sampling, and a pulmonary artery catheter was inserted via the jugular vein for cardiac output measurements. NIRS optodes were placed on skin overlying the liver and directly across the right hepatic lobe. Endotoxemic shock was induced by continuous infusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide O55:B5. Pearson's correlations were calculated between the NIRS readings and the perfusion parameters. FINDINGS: After endotoxemic shock induction, liver blood flow, and oxygen delivery decreased significantly. There were statistically significant correlations between the transcutaneous and liver-surface NIRS readings for oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and cytochrome c oxidase concentrations. There were similar significant correlations of the transcutaneous oxyhemoglobin with both the mixed venous and hepatic vein saturation, and mixed venous and hepatic vein lactate. CONCLUSIONS: Transcutaneous NIRS readings of the liver, in an endotoxemic shock model, correlate with NIRS readings taking directly from the liver surface, as well as with global and specific organ-perfusion parameters.     

Assessment of hepatic fibrosis by analysis of the dynamic behaviour of microbubbles during contrast ultrasonography

Background/aims: Microbubble behaviour from the portal vein to the liver parenchyma may reflect haemodynamic changes because of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (US) with Sonazoid^? for the assessment of the grade of hepatic fibrosis. Methods: This prospective study evaluated 117 patients with chronic liver disease (chronic hepatitis 85; cirrhosis 32) and 34 controls. All subjects received both contrast‐enhanced US with Sonazoid^? for 1 min after the agent injection and subsequent liver biopsy. Flow velocity and flow volume in the right portal vein, onset time of contrast enhancement in the right hepatic artery and right portal vein, maximum intensity ratio between the intra‐hepatic portal vein and liver parenchyma, and time interval between the onset time and the time of maximum intensity ratio were compared with the pathological findings. Results: Among the evaluated parameters, time interval between the onset time and the time of maximum intensity ratio showed the closest relationship with the grade of hepatic fibrosis: 4.21 ± 1.32 for controls (n=34), 5.58 ± 1.39 for F1 (n=31), 6.79 ± 1.77 for F2 (n=28), 8.85 ± 1.97 for F3 (n=26) and 14.3 ± 3.49 for cirrhosis (n=32); controls vs. F2, P=0.0004; F1 vs. F3, P<0.0001; F2 vs. F3, P=0.0177; F3 vs. cirrhosis, P<0.0001. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the time interval were 0.94, 0.96 and 0.98 for the diagnosis of marked fibrosis (≥F2), advanced fibrosis (≥F3) and cirrhosis respectively. Conclusions: Contrast‐enhanced US with Sonazoid^? may be a promising method for the indirect evaluation of hepatic fibrosis.     

多层螺旋CT全肝灌注成像对不同程度脾功能亢进患者肝脾血流状态的评估

目的应用多层螺旋CT全肝灌注模式,探讨不同程度脾功能亢进患者脾脏体积、肝总动脉、脾动静脉、门静脉内径差异及肝脏血流状态变化情况。方法收集慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化脾功能亢进患者42例,无肝脾疾病患者15例作为对照,所有患者均行多层螺旋CT全肝灌注成像:(1)测量比较不同程度脾功能亢进组与对照组脾脏体积、肝总动脉、脾动静脉、门静脉内径之间的差异;(2)分析比较脾脏体积与各相关血管内径之间的相关性;(3)测量比较基于Couinaud分段肝脏五叶相关灌注参数值:肝动脉灌注量(HAP)、门静脉灌注量(PVP)、总肝灌注量(TLP)和肝动脉灌注指数(HPI)。计量资料采用单因素方差分析,采用Pearson相关分析对脾脏体积与各血管内径进行相关性分析。结果(1)肝硬化脾功能亢进组脾脏体积及脾动脉、脾静脉、门静脉内径均大于对照组,差异有统计学意义(F值分别为37.108、17.484、23.124、13.636,P值均<0.05)。(2)中、重度脾功能亢进组脾脏体积及脾动脉、脾静脉、门静脉内径明显大于轻度脾功能亢进组,差异有统计学意义(F值分别为25.418、13.293、15.136、7.093,P值均<0.05),但中、重度脾功能亢进组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(3)脾静脉、门静脉、脾动脉内径与脾脏体积呈正相关(r值分别为0.680、0.548、0.726)。(4)脾功能亢进组全肝叶PVP、TLP均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);不同程度脾功能亢进组HPI均高于对照组,中、重度脾功能亢进组肝右后叶HPI高于轻度脾功能亢进组,差异有统计学意义(F值为3.555、4.570,P值均<0.05);各组间全肝叶HAP差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但重度脾功能亢进组全肝叶HAP均低于对照组、轻及中度脾功能亢进组。结论不同程度脾功能亢进患者脾动静脉内径均有不同程度的增宽,与脾脏体积增大一致,且中、重度为著;不同程度脾功能亢进患者门静脉灌注量及总肝灌注量均减少,肝动脉灌注量以重度脾功能亢进患者减少显著。     

肝硬化患者门静脉、肝动脉血流参数与肝硬度值的关系

目的探讨应用彩色多普勒超声显像仪以及瞬时弹性成像(FibroScan)观察和分析肝硬化患者的门静脉、肝动脉血流动力学改变的意义。方法选择2010年3月至2013年12月本院收治的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者192例,另选健康人100例,使用彩色超声多普勒显像仪检测门静脉平均血流速度(PVVmean)、肝动脉搏动指数(HAPI)、肝动脉阻力指数(HARI);同时进行FibroScan检测,检测结果以肝硬度(LSM)表示。计量资料以均数±标准差(x±s)表示,组间比较采用t检验。结果肝硬化患者HAPI、HARI和LSM分别为1.56±0.24、0.73±0.05和25.38±7.73 kPa,明显高于正常对照组的1.36±0.14、0.65±0.07和7.8±3.6kPa,t值分别为8.980、10.158、26.478,P值均0.05);而肝硬化患者PVVmean为(14.43±1.86)cm/s,明显低于正常对照组(17.35±0.56)cm/s(t=20.076,P0.05)。LSM与肝硬化患者HAPI和HARI呈正相关,相关系数r分别为0.59、0.66,P值均0.001,与PVVmean呈负相关(r=-0.64,P0.001)。结论利用FibroScan测量肝脏硬度以及彩色多普勒超声动态检测肝硬化门静脉高压患者门静脉、肝动脉血流动力学变化,对判断肝硬化程度具有重要意义。     

Blood flow and blood oxygen partial pressure of the azygos vein in portal hypertension evaluated by the catheter method

To evaluate the clinical significance of blood flow in the azygos vein and the oxygen partial pressure in azygos venous blood in portal hypertension, we examined 25 patients with liver cirrhosis, 4 with chronic hepatitis, 4 with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) and 16 controls by the continuous thermodilution method and azygos venous blood sampling. The azygos venous flow was significantly higher in the patients with chronic liver diseases than in the controls. There was a significant correlation between azygos venous flow and hepatic venous pressure gradient. In the patients with liver cirrhosis, about one half of the azygos venous flow was assumed to represent upward collateral flow, as the azygos venous flow was 3.4% of cardiac output in the controls, 6.3% in the liver cirrhosis patients, and 5.1% in the IPH patients. Oxygen partial pressure in azygos venous blood was higher in patients with portal hypertension, especially in the IPH patients, which indicates that part of splenic flow drains into the azygos vein.     

Continuous Arterial Infusion of Prostaglandin E1 via the Superior Mesenteric Artery in the Treatment of Postoperative Liver Failure

Abstract: Impaired hepatic blood flow is one of the causative factors in postoperative liver failure. To restore the hepatic blood flow in case of hepatic artery interruption (HAI), the effect of continuous arterial infusion of prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁), which has a strong vasodilatory effect on vascular smooth muscles, was assessed experimentally and clinically. Twelve pigs underwent ligation and division of the hepatic artery and were divided into 2 groups. In the control group, saline was infused in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and in the PGE₁ group, 0.02 μg/kg/min of PGE₁ was infused continuously in the SMA. Hepatic oxygen delivery (HDo ₂) in the control group was 87.8 ± 8.9 ml/min before HAI and decreased to 43.1 ± 2.6 ml/min at 60 min after HAI, showing 50.9% decrease by HAI. On the contrary, HDo ₂ in the PGE₁ group was 86.7 ± 9.1 ml/min before HAI and was 76.6 ± 12.2 ml/min at 60 min after HAI, showing only 11.6% decrease by HAI. Clinically, a 65‐year‐old female suffering from cholangiocellular carcinoma underwent extended left hepatic lobectomy. At operation, the branch of the hepatic artery to the anterior segment of the liver was ligated, and the right branch of the portal vein became stenotic unavoidably. Postoperatively, severe liver dysfunction developed so that continuous PGE₁ infusion in the SMA was initiated at a rate of 0.01 μg/kg/min on the eighth postoperative day and continued for 9 days. Plasma exchange was performed twice concomitantly. Portal venous flow increased from 612 ml/min to 1,192 ml/min, and bile flow from external biliary drainage tube doubled by the PGE₁ infusion. The liver function was ameliorated after PGE₁ infusion.     

乙型肝炎肝硬化患者中医证型与超声影像学特征的关系

目的:探讨乙型肝炎肝硬化患者中医证型与肝脾大小及门静脉血流动力学的关系。方法:用彩超仪检测150例不同中医证型肝硬化(分为6型)患者的肝右叶最大斜径、前后径,肝左叶上下径、前后径,门静脉及脾静脉内径、血流速度,脾脏大小等超声指标,进行对比分析。结果:肝硬化血瘀证患者与肝气郁结证、湿热内蕴证、肝肾阴虚证患者相比,肝左叶上下径的差异有显著性意义(P<0.05);肝硬化湿热内蕴证患者与血瘀证患者相比,脾脏厚度差异有显著性意义(P<0.05);肝硬化湿热内蕴证患者与肝肾阴虚证、脾肾阳虚证、血瘀证患者相比,门静脉主干内径差异有显著性意义(P<0.05);肝硬化血瘀证患者与肝气郁结证患者相比,门静脉血流流速差异有显著性意义(P<0.01);脾静脉内径、血流流速各型之间比较差异无显著性意义。结论:超声检查对肝硬化中医辨证分型有一定指导意义,随着证型的发展,肝脾大小及门静脉血流动力学有相应改变。     

Hemodynamics in the microvasculature of thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic rat livers

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the hepatic microcirculatory changes in liver cirrhosis, in vivo microscopic findings were assessed quantitatively in cirrhotic rats. METHODOLOGY: Using in vivo microscopy, the blood flow velocity through terminal portal venules and terminal hepatic venules, and their diameters were measured. The rats were classified into a normal group, fibrosis group, and cirrhosis group, histopathologically. To estimate intrahepatic blood flow of the liver surface, laser-Doppler flowmeter was used for the three groups, and portal venous pressures were measured. RESULTS: Blood flow velocity through terminal portal venules increased significantly in cirrhosis rats. However, among the three groups, there were no significant differences with blood flow velocity through terminal portal venules, diameters of terminal portal venules and terminal hepatic venules. Portal venous pressure and intrahepatic blood flow of the liver surface increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that pre-sinusoidal alterations to hemodynamics become manifest in the liver cirrhosis, which might be related to intrahepatic shunt formation.