Impacts of portal vein arterialization on hepatic hemodynamics in rats with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impacts of portal vein arterialization (PVA) on the hepatic hemodynamics in rats with liver cirrhosis. Methods Fifty rats with liver cirrhosis model were randomly divided into PVA group (n=40) and control group (n=10) according to the random number table method. Rats in the PVA group underwent PVA + portacaval shunt. Rats in the control group received no treatment. The variation of portal vein inner diameter, max velocity (Vmax), blood flow and pressure of rats in each group were measured at the time of 1 week (T1), 2 weeks (T2), 4 weeks (T3) and 8 weeks (T4) after operation or enrolling in the group. Parameters of every time points within the group were compared by one-way analysis of variance and pairwise comparison was conducted by LSD-t test. Comparison between groups was conducted by t test. Results Arterial blood flow signal was observed in the portal vein in PVA group after operation. The inner diameters of portal vein at T1, T2, T3, T4 in PVA group [(2.23±0.19), (2.34±0.26), (2.43±0.27), (2.47±0.22) mm ] were significantly enlarged compared with that in control group [(1.91±0.19) mm (t=3.77, 4.22, 5.01, 6.05; P<0.05). The inner diameter of portal vein at T4 was significantly enlarged compared with T1 (LSD-t=2.61, P<0.05). The Vmax of portal vein at T1, T2, T3, T4 in PVA group [ (39.5±2.0), (40.4±2.5), (39.4±2.7) , (38.8±2.6) cm/s] were significantly increased compared with that in control group [(11.3±2.1) cm/s] (t=30.57, 28.13, 26.05, 26.25; P<0.05). The blood flow of portal vein at T1, T2, T3, T4 in PVA group [ (53±10), (60±14), (67±15), (64±10)ml/min] were significantly increased compared with that in control group [(11±4) ml/min] (t=12.71, 10.66, 11.44, 16.00; P<0.05). The blood flow of portal vein at T3 was significantly increased compared with T1 (LSD-t=2.39, P<0.05). The portal vein pressure at T1, T2, T3, T4 in PVA group [(18.3±1.6), (18.5±1.4), (18.3±1.5), (18.2±1.4) cmH2O] (1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa ) were significantly increased compared with that in control group [ (16.3±1.7) cmH2O] (t=2.80, 3.14, 2.93, 2.83; P<0.05). Conclusions PVA can effectively increase the inflow of liver. It will not lead to a continual increase in the inner diameter, Vmax, blood flow, pressure of portal vein but keep a high maintenance level. Key words: Hepatic cirrhosis, experimental; Portal vein arterialization; Portacaval shunt, surgical; Hemodynamics; Rats