Abstract
One experimental arterio-portal shunt method was studied to make it clear whether it improves hepatic dysfunction after hepatic artery obstruction. Mongrel dogs were divided into two groups, those with ligated hepatic arteries (HAL) and those with arterio-portal shunts (APS) in which one end of the hepatic artery was anastomosed to the side of the portal vein following ligation of hepatic arteries. In the HAL group, mean total hepatic blood flow decreased to 53% and hepatic oxygen delivery to 43% of the control values, while portal vein resistance increased to 250% six hours after occlusion of the hepatic artery. On the other hand, in the APS group, total hepatic blood flow, hepatic oxygen delivery and portal vein resistance remained near their initial values at 124%, 108% and 70% respectively. Concentrations of total bile acid, GOT and GPT were lower in the APS group than in the HAL group. The arterial ketone body ratio was lower in the HAL group than in the APS group. In conclusion, this experiment made it clear that the arterio-portal shunt method had the beneficial effect of preserving hepatic blood flow and hepatic oxygen delivery during hepatic artery occlusion, and was useful in preventing liver failure.
