[Homologous liver and liver-kidney transplantation--experimental study]

Animal experiments were carried out for giving an opinion about several problems in hepatic transplantation, such as blood clotting disturbance, liver-kidney transplantation, and vitality of the graft. 54 allogenic orthotopic and heterotopic liver transplantations and liver-kidney transplantations were performed on pigs, the major part without portosystemic decompressing bypass, following the technique of Calne. 17 animals survived for a longer period. Preservation up to 20 hours could successfully be outlasted by help of hypothermic immersion or intermittant gravitational perfusion up to the limit of eight hours. Aside from biochemical observation, severe blood clotting disturbances only occurred after a longer ischemic period. After en-bloc transplantation the function of the graft was checked by means of angiography and intravenous pyelography. Due to higher tolerance against ischemia, the kidney of the en-bloc graft always started functioning when the function of the liver was intact. The changes of bioelectric resistance of the liver before and after transplantation, measured by help of the impedance method of Lechner and Rodler, correlated with the time of surviving and with several biochemic parameters.