Temporary beneficial effect of arterialization of the liver in cirrhotic dogs with a portacaval shunt. A preliminary report.
The effect of arterialization of the portal vein was investigated in cirrhotic dogs with a portacaval shunt. In dogs receiving a portacaval shunt only (PCS), the pressure in the intrahepatic portal vein fell to about 10% of the preshunt value, while the total hepatic blood flow was reduced by 63.9%. By contrast, in dogs with arterialization in addition to a portacaval shunt (PCS + A), the pressure in the portal vein was almost restored to preshunt levels, and the decrease in total hepatic blood flow was only 35.7%; this difference in the reduction of hepatic perfusion is significant (p less than 0.01). 2 weeks after the operation, PCS + A dogs had lower plasma levels of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase, and a higher antipyrine clearance than PCS dogs (p less than 0.05). This improvement, however, was of short duration. The results of the ammonia tolerance test were not affected by the arterialization procedure.
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D004285:Dogs; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D011312:Pressure
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D001663:Bilirubin; D000983:Antipyrine