Studies on hepatic blood flow and the rate of bromsulphalein clearance in dogs with portacaval transposition.

Abstract

Portacaval transposition, first described by Child and his group,3 has been widely used in recent years for the study of hepatic and gastrointestinal physiology. Except for a slowed rate of ammonia detoxification in the preparation, liver function is thought to be normal.4,6,9,14 Inasmuch as portacaval transposition involves a radical change in the vascular supply to the liver, knowledge of hepatic blood flow after operation would appear to be important. In the present study, hepatic blood flows were studied with the Bromsulphalein (BSP) method in a group of dogs with portacaval transposition, under resting unanesthetized conditions and under certain conditions of stress. Quantitative corollary data were obtained on the capacity for BSP clearance. A modification of Child’s transposition was used in this study in order to eliminate flow variations resulting from the development of venous collaterals. All ileocaval tributaries from the inguinal ligament to the diaphragm were ligated in conjunction with transposition, and only the renal veins8 were spared.