Experimental liver failure. A comparison between hepatectomy and hepatic devascularization in the pig

Area of Science:

• Experimental Medicine
• Surgical Research
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• Acute hepatic failure presents treatment challenges due to unknown pathogenesis and unpredictable progression.
• Existing experimental models for hepatic failure include hepatectomy and total hepatic devascularization.
• The validity of hepatectomy, excluding necrotic liver tissue, as a model for human hepatic failure has been questioned.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of hepatectomy and total hepatic devascularization as experimental models for acute hepatic failure.
• To evaluate the influence of necrotic liver tissue on the validity of hepatic failure models.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of survival times between anhepatic (hepatectomy) and devascularized preparations in an experimental setting.
• Monitoring of blood pressure trends in both experimental models.
• Analysis of serum biochemical markers, including alanin-aminotransferases and free hemoglobin.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in survival time was observed between the anhepatic (16h 2min ± 57min) and devascularized (18h 33min ± 1h 5min) models.
• Anhepatic preparations showed a gradual decrease in blood pressure, while devascularized preparations maintained stable blood pressure until a terminal steep decline.
• Increased serum alanin-aminotransferases and free hemoglobin were noted in the devascularized model, but not in the anhepatic model.

Conclusions:

• The presence of necrotic liver tissue is of minor importance in experimental models of hepatic failure.
• The total hepatic devascularization model is technically more suitable for experimental studies of hepatic failure compared to hepatectomy.
• Both models provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of acute hepatic failure.