Combined hypolipidemia of portacaval transposition and ileal resection in the dog.

The effects of portacaval transposition in combination with exclusion of the distal part of the intestine upon the plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels was studied in dogs. The dogs tolerated distal intestinal resection, portacaval transposition and their combination well; survival and weight maintenance probably being superior to that of dogs having a standard end-to-side portacaval shunt. Plasma triglyceride levels significantly decreased after portacaval transposition and after intestinal resection; an additional and significant lowering of triglyceride levels was observed after a combination of these procedures. Portacaval transposition significantly lowered the plasma cholesterol level of dogs given a normal chow diet but did not protect them from diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Distal intestinal resection did not significantly lower the plasma cholesterol level of nonhypothyroid, normocholesterolemic dogs fed regular chow but did protect them from dietary hypercholesterolemia. Portacaval transposition plus intestinal resection demonstrated the addition of these effects upon the plasma cholesterol level. The combination of a portal diversion operation and an intestinal exclusion procedure may provide a synergistic approach to lipid reduction.