A technique for measuring hepatic blood flow and oxygen consumption in the anaesthetised pig

A technique for implanting a catheter in the hepatic vein of anaesthetised pigs is described. Hepatic blood flow (mean 1100 ml/min +/- 180 ml/min SEM) was estimated by the hepatic uptake of indocyanine green and the oxygen consumption by the liver (mean 62 ml/min +/- 3.4 ml/min SEM) was calculated from the difference in oxygen content between arterial and hepatic venous blood.