HYBRID LIVER SUPPORT SYSTEM IN A SHORT-TERM APPLICATION ON HEPATECTOMIZED PIGS

A short term application of a hybrid liver support system in circuits with continuous plasma-separation was investigated in a model of hepat ectomized pigs under general anesthesia Primary pig hepatocytes were i mmobilized in a bioreactor with three independent capillary systems. A n immune barrier is achieved by avoiding the direct contact of blood c ells with the hepatocytes by a plasmaseparation step and by an outflow filtration within the reactor. In three groups (hepatectomized pigs a nd system with- or without hepatocytes as well as untreated pigs with system without hepatocytes) the short term metabolism of the reactors was positively demonstrated by investigating ammonia detoxification, p henylalanine- and lactate metabolism. Limitations of the presented mod el are discussed.