STUDY OF PORTACAVAL-SHUNT EFFECTIVENESS IN RATS

Background/Aims: This is a report of a study designed to confirm the p resence and determine the effectiveness of portacaval shunts. Material and Methods: Color Doppler ultrasonography of the portal system, as a superior diagnostic procedure, was performed in experimental animals. Results: Presence of shunt is indicated by initial loss of body mass in such animals (p<0.01) as well as by increased ammonia concentration (p<0.01). Conclusions: Surgical technique of end-to-side portacaval a nastomosis, originally described in 1961 and modified in 1963, has bee n used as a model of hepatic insufficiency in rats. Color Doppler ultr asonography of the portal system was performed to confirm PCS efficacy . Blood flow in PCS was confirmed in all operated animals. Blood flow in the portal vein was phased and respiratory dependent, slihtly decre ased. Portacaval shunt had typical mixed blood flow of turbulent chara cter. Blood flow in VCI was increased due to PCS. No comparable data f or this model in rats were available. Body mass of animals with PCS si gnificantly decreases during the first two weeks, by 15-18% (p<0.01), to be followed by statistically significant increase (p<0.01). Ammonia concentrations, obtained at the beginning of the second postoperative week, were significantly higher than in control group, probably as a consequence of complete diversion of portal blood, rich with ammonia, into systemic circulation and of decreased liver capacity for ammonia uptake.