Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Occlusion, Including Venous Congestion, Induction in Rats.

Abstract

Associating liver partition with portal vein occlusion for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a recently developed strategy for inducing rapid hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR). To explore possible mechanisms, we designed the first model of ALPPS with venous congestion (ALPPS+C) in rats. Rats were assigned randomly to 3 experimental groups: ALPPS, ALPPS+C and sham. Hepatic regeneration rate, Ki-67 and histopathology were assessed at 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days postoperatively. Hepatic regeneration rate was much higher for ALPPS+C than for ALPPS at 48 h and 7 days postoperatively (p<0.01). Microscopically, the regenerating liver showed greater hepatocyte density and smaller hepatocyte size in ALPPS+C than in ALPPS (p<0.01 for each). Greater hepatic regeneration in ALPPS+C than in ALPPS confirmed that we established a rat model of ALPPS with benefit from venous congestion. Producing a congested area may contribute importantly to rapid FLR hypertrophy during ALPPS.