Effect of graded hypoxia on hepatic tissue oxygenation measured by near infrared spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
In liver transplantation ischaemia-reperfusion injury of the graft reduces hepatic tissue oxygenation which has prognostic value for patient survival. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can measure extracellular (haemoglobin oxygenation) and intracellular tissue oxygenation (cytochrome oxidase oxidation). However, it has not been validated for measuring hepatic tissue oxygenation in an experimental model with graded hypoxia.


METHODS
New Zealand White rabbits (2.9+/-0.3 kg, n=9) underwent laparotomy for liver exposure. Heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, arterial blood pH and blood gas partial pressures were monitored during the experiments. Near infrared spectroscopy probes were placed on the liver surface to record continuously hepatic oxyhaemoglobin, deoxyhaemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase oxidation. Graded hypoxia was achieved by stepwise reduction of the inspired oxygen from 15 to 4%. During recovery from hypoxia 30% oxygen was administered.


RESULTS
There was an immediate reduction of hepatic oxyhaemoglobin with hypoxia and a simultaneous increase of hepatic deoxyhaemoglobin. Hepatic oxyhaemoglobin showed a positive correlation with arterial oxygen pressure (r=0.77, p<0.001). Hepatic deoxyhaemoglobin showed a negative correlation with arterial oxygen pressure (r=-0.75, p<0.001). Hepatic cytochrome oxidase decreased significantly with an inspired oxygen of 10% or less and showed a positive correlation with arterial oxygen pressure (r= 0.90, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Near infrared spectroscopy is an effective method for monitoring hepatic extracellular and intracellular tissue oxygenation.
El-Desoky
A E
AE
University Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital Trust and Royal Free and University College School of Medicine, London, UK.
Seifalian
A M
AM
Davidson
B R
BR
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001239:Inhalation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011817:Rabbits; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D010100:Oxygen