Experimental study on the interruption of hepatic blood flow in obstructive jaundice, with special reference to the causes of death and prolonged jaundice after biliary decompression

The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the influence of interruption of the hepatic blood flow on survival and on prolonged jaundice after biliary decompression in dogs with obstructive jaundice. There were three experimental groups. Two or three weeks after inducing obstructive jaundice by ligation of the common bile duct with cholecystectomy, the hepatic artery (group A), portal vein (group B) or both (group C) were interrupted for various intervals, with antibiotics administration. Biliary decompression was simultaneously performed with choledochoduodenostomy. The one week survival rate after the interruption of hepatic blood flow was more than 60% at 2 and 1 hours in group A, 20 and 10 minutes in group B, 10 and 5 minutes in group C at two and three weeks after biliary obstruction, respectively. Necrosis more than 50% of the liver was observed in early death cases. Edema and stasis in the bile canaliculi were markedly observed histologically in survivors in groups A and C, accompanied with significant elevations of serum T. Bil and GPT. The changes were greater in cases with longer periods of jaundice. In obstructive jaundice, hepatic artery occlusion causes hepatic necrosis, in spite of antibiotics administration, and may induce prolonged jaundice after biliary decompression. As an indicator of the prognosis, the serum total bile acid value was useful.