Study Objective: To evaluate the effects of an intravenous infusion of pros
taglandin E1 (PGE1) on hepatic blood flow.
Design: Prospective clinical study.
Setting: University-affiliated hospital.
Patients: 16 ASA physical status I and II surgical patients who were schedu
led for abdominal surgery.
Interventions: Patients were anaesthetized with 1% sevoflurane and 66% nitr
ous oxide. PGE1 0.05 mg/kg/min or PGE1 0.10 mg/kg/min was continuously infu
sed, followed by an infusion of 1000 mL Ringer's acetate solution.
Measurements: The hemodynamic effect of PGE1 was examined using pulse dye d
ensitometry (PDD). A nose probe for PDD was used, and 10 mg indocyanine gre
en (ICG) in 2 mL distilled water was bolus-infused into a central venous ca
theter for each measurement. Cardiac output (CO), circulating blood volume
(CBV), and plasma dye clearance rate (K) were monitered from the dye-densit
ogram. Hepatic blood flow was estimated using the K and CBV values.
Main Results: PGE1 did not increase CBV or CO. Even adding a 1000 mL crysta
lloid infusion did not expand CBV, whereas mean arterial pressure (MAP) sig
nificantly decreased from 91.1 +/- 16.5 mmHg to 84.8 +/- 13.5 mmHg (PGE1 0.
05 mug/kg/min) and 80.6 +/- 14.4 mmHg (PGE 0.10 mug/kg/min) (p < 0.01 compa
red with control value), then to 72.0 +/- 6.5 mmHg (PGE 0.10 mug/kg/min + 1
000 mL Ringer's acetate) (p < 0.01 compared with control value). Hepatic bl
ood flow changes were 1.46 +/- 0.60 L/min mug/kg/min (control), 1.48 +/- 0.
45 L/min (PGE1 0.05 mug/kg/min), 1.14 +/- 0.35 L/min (PGE1 1.10 mug/kg/min)
, and 1.15 +/- 1.19 L/min (PGE1 0.10 mug/kg/min + 1000 mL Ringer's acetate)
(no significant difference, p < 0.05). Hepatic blood flow and K values did
not statistically differ at each condition.
Conclusions: PGE1 does not affect blood volume shift, CO, or hepatic blood
flow. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.