[Arterial blood supply of the liver]

We examined (dogs) the influence of hypovolaemic shock and reversible interruption of the portal vein on the arterial blood flow and metabolism of the liver. Depending on the arterial mean-pressure hypovolaemic shock decreases the flowrate of the hepatic artery, while it is increases to 30 to 40% during interruption of the portal vein. Whether hypoxy will cause liver damage or not is only dependant from the resulting oxygen supply of the liver. This critical range is below 6 to 7 ml/min per 100 g liver tissue.