Late Biliary Obstruction in Wistar Rats After Intermittent Hepatic Pedicle Clamping

Abstract

IntroductionThe temporary vascular occlusion of hepatic flow is one of the essential procedures in hepatic surgery. AimEvaluate the late liver alterations after intermittent pedicle hepatic clamping (IHPC) in Wistar rats. MethodsMale Wistar rats (n = 14) with average weight of 281.1 g, were anesthetized with intraperitoneal ketamine 5%. The IHPC group (n = 7) was submitted to U-shaped abdominal incision; the hepatic pedicle was isolated and submitted to IHPC ischemia 4 times, 5 minutes each, followed by reperfusion 4 times, 5 minutes each. The simulated operation group (n = 7) was subjected to anesthesia, laparotomy, and manipulation of the hepatic pedicle. On day 35, after fasting for 12 hours, liver biopsies were collected and blood was tested for liver aminotransferases (aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase). ResultsAll the IHPC group animals had a dilated common bile duct and increased liver enzymes (P < .05 by Mann-Whitney test). Ductular proliferation (100% of cases), porta-porta septa (42.8%), formation of lumps (42.8%), foci of necrosis (14.2%), and bile plugs (14, 2%) were observed only in the IHPC group. ConclusionIn rats, IHPC caused morphologic features leading to biliary obstruction.