HEPATIC-FUNCTION DURING GENERAL HYPOTHERMIA IN THE PIG - ASSESSMENT BY AMINOPYRINE BREATH TEST

We investigated the influence of pre-harvesting general hypothermia on liver metabolic activity by means of Aminopyrine Breath Test (ABT). T his study was conducted in pigs which were anesthetized, curarised and cooled on an ice bed. Each animal received labelled aminopyrine and ( CO2)-C-14, in expired air was measured between 37.5 and 25.5 degrees C . The liver metabolic activity at 31.5 degrees C represents 53.3% of t he normothermic value. At 25.5 degrees C, this activity is reduced by 75.1%. The mean decreasing rate is 6.2%/degrees C for a fall in temper ature of 12 degrees C. A change of slope occurred at 31.5 degrees C. T he first decreasing rate is 7.47 +/- 1.62%/degrees C and the second on e is 4.48 +/- 2.27%/degrees C. Thus, use of general hypothermia during liver harvesting should improve the quality of organ preservation: th e important reduction of metabolism should decrease the oxygen debt re sulting from anaerobic cold perfusion.