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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Steps for the Autologous Ex vivo Perfused Porcine Liver-kidney Experiment
Published on: December 18, 2013
Changes in acid-base balance during electrolytic ablation in an ex vivo perfused liver model
Gianpiero Gravante1, Seok Ling Ong, Matthew S Metcalfe
1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK. ggravante@hotmail.com
Background:
Electrolytic ablation (EA) destroys tissues through extreme pH changes in the local microenvironment. An ex vivo perfused liver model was used to assess the systemic effects of EA on the acid-base balance without the influence of compensatory organs (lungs and kidneys).
Methods:
Eleven pigs were perfused extracorporeally at 39°C with autologous blood; 4 also underwent EA after 1 hour of reperfusion. Arterial blood samples were obtained hourly.
Results:
pH and CO(2) levels did not change throughout the experiments. A significant increase of HCO(3)-, anion gap, base excess, and lactate was present after the third hour. No differences were observed between EA experiments and controls.
Conclusions:
EA does not alter the acid-base balance even when the confounding influence of compensatory organs is removed. Such findings should be considered when planning ablations in patients with renal failure or respiratory diseases in which EA could avoid undesirable metabolic changes.
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