[Simplification of the orthotopic hepatic transplantation in the dog. 20 cases without decompression of the sub-hepatic cave system].

Although the human orthotopic transplantation technique is settled, the animal transplantation is still useful as it can be a helpful training for the human transplant and allows to test the hepatic parenchyma means of preservation value, as well as the immuno-depressing treatments qualities. Up to now, the orthotopic hepatic canine transplantation was complicated by the necessity of decompressing the splanchnic and cava regions of the recipient dog during the hepatectomy and the graft. During this experimentation, the 20 dogs orthotopic hepatic transplantations were done by decompressing only the splanchnic veinous system with a porto-jugular by-pass and by letting the inferior vena cava clamped during the hepatectomy and the transplant settlement. All the dogs survived this operation. The haemodynamic studies showed that the porto-jugular bypass was efficient to decompress the veinous splanchnic system and principally that the systemic arterial pressure gave a slight drop when the bypass was opened, the infra hepatic vena cava being clamped. It is therefore proved that the dog orthotopic hepatic transplantation may be done only be decompressing the veinous splanchnic system which is a technical simplification, avoiding particularly the temporary porto-cava anastomosis or the settlement of a second femoro-jugular shunt.