QUANTIFICATION OF HEPATIC MICROCIRCULATIO N DURING EXPERIMENTAL LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION - CHARACTERIZATION OF PRIMARY GRAFT NONFUNCTION

Hepatic microcirculation (MC) was measured with thermodiffusion (TD) d uring the early phases after liver graft reperfusion in a porcine mode l. TD proved to be effective for measurement of MC. Data were comparab le to flow data obtained with other methods, previously published. Aft er graft reperfusion a persisting disturbance of hepatic MC was observ ed. Intra-hepatic shunt-flow was more pronounced in animals, which die d within 2 hours after reperfusion. Quantification of hepatic MC in th e early period after reperfusion could be of help for estimation of ea rly graft function after OLT.