Perfusion of canine liver in vivo

¹ Department of Surgery, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and Department of Experimental Surgery, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

A method is described for perfusing the canine liver in vivo and in situ with heparinized whole blood, together with preliminary data on concentration changes of several selected constituents of the perfusing blood or plasma. The porta hepatis is denervated in order to minimize neural influences on the hepatic vascular resistance. Prior to perfusion catheters are placed in the vessels without obstructing the blood flow and ligatures or nooses are loosely placed around the catheterized vessels. During this time the blood pressure and systemic condition of the animal is carefully maintained with transfusions and other fluids. When the ligatures are simultaneously drawn up and tied, the catheters become, in effect, cannulas, and the hepatic circulation is instantaneously and completely divorced from the remaining systemic circulation; at no time is there interruption of normal pressure and flow of oxygenated blood to the liver. Thus, hepatic swelling or congestion, which is thought to limit the perfusion, is minimized by denervation, minimal manipulation of the liver itself, maintenance of the animal's condition prior to the onset of perfusion, instantaneous changeover to the perfusing system and the use of heparinized, whole blood. After completion of the perfusion the normal vascular relationships may be re-established and, on occasion, long-term survival may be expected.