Changes in liver blood flow after hepatectomy in conscious dogs

Hepatic circulation after hepatectomy was investigated in conscious dogs under fasting and feeding conditions. After a 40% hepatectomy, both the hepatic arterial and portal blood flow were measured simultaneously using ultrasonic transit time flowmeters. During fasting, the total hepatic blood flow (i.e., the sum of arterial and portal blood flow) changed in a biphasic pattern after hepatectomy. The first peak (517.9 +/- 42.7 ml/min; 130.1% of preoperative flow) was seen on the 1st postoperative day (POD) and the second peak (444.8 +/- 25.6 ml/min; 112.7% of preoperative flow) occurred on the 7th POD. The portal flow demonstrated the same biphasic changes as the total hepatic flow, although the hepatic arterial flow showed only the first peak. A heart rate analysis suggested that the first peak was probably due to hyperdynamic circulatory conditions, as has been previously reported. In addition, the existence of the second peak was established by the present study. The postprandial hepatic blood flow decreased during the first 2 weeks postoperatively, but exceeded the presurgical levels on PODs 21 and 28.