Portal Vein Arterialization for the Treatment of Post Resection Acute Liver Failure in the Rat

INTRODUCTION: Hyperoxygenation of the liver has been suggested to improve its regenerative capacity. Thus, this study sought to determine whether an additional supply of oxygenated blood delivered by portal vein arterialization (PVA) was protective against acute liver failure induced by hepatectomy. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (six per each group) were divided to either undergo PVA or be untreated after extended hepatectomy. Liver injury was evaluated by the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Hepatocyte regeneration was assessed by calculating the mitotic index and bromodeoxyuridine staining. The 10-day survival was assessed in separate experimental groups. RESULTS: The pO(2) in portal blood increased significantly following PVA. Serum ALT levels were significantly reduced in arterialized versus nonarterialized rats. PVA promotes liver regeneration. Finally, PVA significantly improved host survival compared to the controls: 90% versus 30%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that an additional supply of arterial oxygenated blood through PVA promoted a rapid regeneration, leading to a faster restoration of liver mass after partial hepatectomy in rats. Thus, PVA may represent a novel tool to optimize hepatocyte regeneration.