Liver circulation and oxygen metabolism during short time ligation and the hepatic artery in the dog.

The changes of liver circulation and liver oxygen metabolism during and after one hour hepatic artery ligation (HAL) were studied in eight mongrel dogs. At the end of the HAL period total hepatic blood flow (THBF) was reduced from 115.6 +/- 5.5 ml/min . 100 g liver tissue to 68.0 +/- 3.7 ml/min . 100 g or 59% of the initial value. The portal venous blood flow was reduced from 83.1 +/- 3.4 to 58.8 +/- 3.7 ml/min . 100 or 82% of the initial value and the liver oxygen consumption was reduced from 4.1 +/- 0.2 ml/min . 100 g to 3.1 +/- 0.3 ml/min . 100 g or 76% of the initial value. The changes in portal venous blood flow and liver oxygen consumption were reversible following reopening of the hepatic artery. The clinical importance of a reduced portal venous blood flow and liver oxygen consumption following HAL and the possibilities to increase the portal venous blood flow are discussed.