[Experimental study of portal hemodynamic changes after hepatic artery embolization]

We studied portal hemodynamic changes by using duplex Doppler in 10 pigs with hepatic artery embolization (HAE) and hepatic artery ligation (HAL) and in 5 with HAL only. Serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase, ALT, direct and indirect bilirubin were determined simultaneously. Hepatic angiography and hepatic vascular cast were performed in the 5 pigs, and pathological examination in others. Portal venous velocity (PVV) and portal blood flow (PBF) increased after HAE, ALP, ALT, direct indirect bilirubin slightly elevated (P > 0.05) in the two groups after operation and most of them decreased subsequently within 7 days. Linear regression of PBF with ALP, ALT, direct and indirect bilirubin occurred in the experimental group. Liver necrosis was seen in all pigs of the experimental group and only one in the control group. Angiography and vascular cast showed that hepatic artery collaterals occurred at the portal hilus in the two groups and were more rich in the control group. Extrahepatic and intrahepatic arterial collaterals were seen from 1 to 3 weeks after HAE. The estimation of PVV and PBF by duplex Doppler may reflect the development of collaterals indirectly and is helpful in assessing the effect of HAE.