Altered portal pressure secondary to portacaval and portasystemic shunts in the rat: the effect on liver function and intestinal integrity.
Two types of portasystemic shunts were investigated in the rat; low pressure shunts (portacaval shunt, PCS, and portacaval transposition, PCT) and a high pressure shunts (Portasystemic shunt by ligation of the portal vein after splenic transposition, PSSL). liver atrophy was seen in all groups but PCT. Simplification of intestinal villi was observed in all groups and related to the degree of portal pressure alteration. Liver function and clinical status improved if some blood, either systemic or splanchnic, perfused the liver through surgical deviation (PCT) or accidental collateral formation (PSSL + C). In the prevention of the PCS syndromes selective portacaval shunting is advocated, leaving some blood to flow to the liver. A high as possible splanchnic pressure prevents intestinal villi simplification and loss of resorptional surface.
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000502:physiology*; D011170:Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013448:Sulfobromophthalein / Q000378:metabolism
D012709:Serum Albumin; D013448:Sulfobromophthalein