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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Heterotopic Auxiliary Rat Liver Transplantation With Flow-regulated Portal Vein Arterialization in Acute Hepatic Failure
Published on: September 13, 2014
Arterialization of the portal vein improves hepatic microcirculation and tissue oxygenation in experimental cirrhosis
W Yang1, R Koti, G Glantzounis
1Hepatic Haemodynamic Laboratory, University Department of Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, UK.
Background:
Arterialization of the portal vein (APV) has shown beneficial effects on liver regeneration and function in selected patients undergoing liver resection and transplantation. Whether APV improves liver perfusion and function in cirrhosis is unclear. This study investigated the effect of APV on hepatic haemodynamics and liver function in a rat model of cirrhosis.
Methods:
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were divided into three groups: normal controls (n = 7), cirrhosis with sham laparotomy (sham; n = 7) and cirrhosis with APV (APV; n = 9). Portal venous blood flow, portal vein pressure and hepatic parenchymal microcirculation (HPM) were measured before and after APV. Hepatic parenchymal oxygenation was assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy and hepatocellular injury by standard liver function tests. Measurements were taken at baseline, after APV and 7 days after surgery.
Results:
APV increased portal blood flow and pressure in cirrhotic rats without altering intrahepatic portal resistance. APV increased the HPM in cirrhotic rats by a mean(s.e.m.) of 28.5(0.1) per cent on day 0 and 54.6(0.1) per cent by day 7 (P = 0.001). Liver tissue oxygenation was increased by APV and the plasma gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase level was reduced (mean(s.e.m.) 6.0(0.5) versus 3.8(0.3) units/l before and after APV respectively; P = 0.006) at day 7.
Conclusion:
APV increases portal blood flow, tissue perfusion and oxygenation in cirrhosis.
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