Experimental study of partial arterialization of the portal vein on the dearterialized liver

The influence of hepatic arterial obstruction on the hepatic circulation and tissue metabolism was studied between animals with and without partial arterialization of the portal vein. Mongrel dogs were divided into these groups: a group in which the collaterals to the liver were obstructed and the hepatic artery was dissected (hepatic artery ligated group); two groups in which an extracorporeal femoral artery-portal vein shunt was produced, and blood was sent by a Biopump at a rate of 100 or 200 ml/min (100 ml/min and 200 ml/min portal arterialized groups). The hepatic artery ligated group showed CO2 accumulation and acidosis in hepatic venous blood, reduction of oxygen supply, increase of oxygen consumption and marked increase of GOT and GPT. In the portal arterialized groups, sufficient oxygenation of portal blood was noted, and the oxygen demand and supply and tissue metabolism were kept approximately normal. The optimum flow rate for partial arterialization of the portal vein seemed to be 100 ml/min. At the flow rate of 200 ml/min, the original portal blood was reduced, leading to portal hypertension and increase of GOT and GPT. These results indicate that partial arterialization of the portal vein effectively preserves the liver function during the operation and in the early period after dissection of the hepatic artery.