Subtotal hepatectomy: a porcine model for the study of liver regeneration.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to devise a simple, reproducible method of subtotal hepatectomy in a large animal model. Such an experimental model could be useful in the investigation of liver regeneration and liver insufficiency after partial hepatectomy. Equally, this technique could be used for assessing the effect of artificial liver support systems on both liver function and regeneration.


METHODS
Twenty pigs were subjected to either 70-80% liver resection (n = 11), or 85-90% liver resection (n = 9), using a simplified technique.


RESULTS
Most tolerated the procedure well and showed restoration of full liver volume within 3 weeks. Three animals in the 90% resection group died with significantly raised levels of International Normalized Ratio (INR) and ammonia.


CONCLUSIONS
These two techniques have been shown to be easily reproducible and well tolerated by the animals and allow easy assessment of liver function and regeneration in the postoperative period. The deaths in the 90% resection group supports the hypothesis that 90% partial hepatectomy represents a model of critical residual liver parenchyma.
Court
Fiona G
FG
University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Laws
Peter E
PE
Morrison
Charles P
CP
Teague
Benjamin D
BD
Metcalfe
Matthew S
MS
Wemyss-Holden
Simon A
SA
Dennison
Ashley R
AR
Maddern
Guy J
GJ
D000818:Animals; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013552:Swine