Abstract
Objective : This study was conducted to improve the survival of an auxiliary liver constructed using a small intestinal segment packed with liver microfragments and the co-insertion of greater omentum. Design : Male Wistar rats (300-400 g) were used. A jejunal segment (2-3 cm) was isolated together with a feeding pedicle. After the removal of the mucosa, the intestinal segment was filled with greater omentum and liver microfragments obtained from the left liver of the same individual rat to accelerate the blood flow to the auxiliary liver. Groups of 2-8 rats were killed at various intervals, and the viabilities of the liver grafts were analyzed histologically. Results : The engrafted liver microfragments were reorganized in the segmental intestine and exhibited an almost normal histological structure of the liver even after 60 or 90 days although the grafts became completely necrotic when greater omentum was not included in the grafts. However, a notable number of cases were lost because of the twisting of the intestinal graft. Conclusions : The co-insertion of greater omentum with the liver microfragments extended the survival of the engrafted liver tissue. However, the development of a technique to prevent graft twisting is needed to further improve the survival rate.
