SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF PORTAL-VEIN ARTERIALIZATION ON HEPATIC PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS AND ENDOTOXEMIA AFTER EXTENDED HEPATECTOMY IN DOGS

To assess the effect of partial portal arterialization on the remainin g liver after usually lethal extended hepatectomy, 30 mongrel dogs und erwent 84% partial hepatectomy and were divided into three groups as f ollows: group 1, 84% partial hepatectomy (72 = 10); group 2, 84% parti al hepatectomy and splenectomy (n = 10); group 3, 84% partial hepatect omy and splenectomy and splenic artery-vein (A-V) shunt (it = 10). Ano ther five dogs were pre-operatively killed normal controls. Portal vei n flow (PVF) decreased to about 60% in groups 1 and 2, but PVF in grou p 3 was maintained at the preoperative level. Oxygen saturation of por tal vein blood increased markedly, to between 83% (group 1) and 88% (g roup 3). Portal vein pressure (PVP) increased in groups 1 and 2 by 1.6 to 1.7 times the preoperative value, but no significant difference in PVP, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and arterial ketone body ratio was found between the three groups. Plasma endotoxin levels afte r 84% partial hepatectomy were significantly lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Both of hepatocellular and secretory protein synthesis were enhanced in group 3 compared with the other two groups. These re sults suggest that partial portal arterialization using a splenic A-V shunt might bring about a beneficial effect on remaining liver functio n after extended hepatectomy.