Variation in Portal Blood Flow Measured by Dye-Dilution in Young Calves

Abstract

Abstract Portal blood flow in seven calves was calculated by computer analysis of indocyanine green dye-dilution curves. The range, mean and standard error for blood flow in ml/(min × kg body weight) for each calf were 8.1 to 38.0, 16.6 ± 1.4; 17.7 to 66.5, 46.7 ± 5.9; 24.1 to 60.7, 35.0 ± 3.1; 23.9 to 60.1, 41.1 ± 4.0; 22.0 to 119.2, 61.5 ± 2.7; 26.1 to 74.6, 47.2 ± 2.4; 32.1 to 35.8, 34.3 ± 0.4. Blood flow was highly variable among animals, and within animals throughout the day and from day to day. Blood flow for a given time should be calculated as the average of a minimum of three values obtained within 15 minutes and should not represent the flow at any other time. Blood flow values determined for a given calf are applicable only to studies with that calf.