[Extracorporeal pig liver perfusion in normo- and moderate hypothermia (author's transl)]

32 allogeneic extracorporeal pig liver perfusions were performed for a period of 3 hours to examine the viability of the isolated liver. The perfusion apparatus consisted of 3 independently regulated pumps and of a semiautomatic flow regulation by a capacitive level transducer. The bile secretion alone gives a rough estimation only when external influences like the temperature are taken into consideration. The oxygen consumption correlated to pressure and flow is a suitable parameter indicating the viability of the extracorporeally perfused liver. By combining these bed-side parameters we were able to determine the functional capacity of an isolated liver properly. Under moderate hypothermia (34 degree to 35 degree C) the oxygen consumption falls by 25%, while the bile secretion falls by 487.8%. The success of an extracorporeal liver perfusion will depend on achieving normothermal conditions. For clinical use one may concentrate on these quick and easy bed-side parameters. Because other tests of viability like clearance methods or assays of metabolites are very time-consuming they are of little value in the immediate control of a running perfusion.