Increased bleeding during liver resection after sympathetic block in normal rats

The effect of sympathetic block on hemostasis after standardized liver resection was studied in the rat. Sympathetic block was undertaken by paravertebral block or surgical sympathectomy. Blood loss was significantly increased, but the bleeding time was not prolonged after paravertebral block. Surgical sympathectomy also increased blood loss as compared to controls, but there was no difference when compared with sham operation. Adenosine diphosphate and collagen induced platelet aggregation was not inhibited in all animals as compared to controls. The results indicate that primary hemostasis was not seriously affected, but that hepatic blood flow was augmented after sympathetic block.