AUXILIARY HETEROTOPIC LIVER GRAFT USING SPLENOPANCREATIC VENOUS-BLOODFLOW IN PIG

An original model of auxiliary heterotopic liver graft perfused by spl enopancreatic venous blood flow is studied in pig. Separate portal inf low is performed for each liver and permits efficient function in both graft and native liver. Ten pigs were evaluated 90 days after transpl antation, five without portal graft reperfusion (group 1) and five wit h portal graft reperfusion by splenopancreatic venous blood flow (grou p 2). Mean biliary output was 4.8 +/- 3.3 ml/hr in group 1, 9.6 +/- 2. 3 ml/hr in group 2; biliary conjugated bilirubin level was 0 in group 1, 145 +/- 117 mu mol/liter in group 2; intrahepatic glycogen level wa s 0.9 +/- 1.1 g% in group 1, 4.25 +/- 1.56 g% in group 2. Livers and g rafts were weighed to evaluate hepatic mass on the 90th day. A histolo gical examination was performed for each graft and native liver. It wa s shown that an auxiliary liver graft perfused by splenopancreatic ven ous blood flow presents satisfying metabolic function for 3 months, wi thout atrophying and without functional impairment of native liver. Th is original model could be indicated in acute hepatic failure if regen eration of native liver is expected or in metabolic disease when total hepatectomy of the native liver may be unnecessary. (C) 1995 Academic Press,Inc.