Auxiliary heterotopic liver graft using splenopancreatic venous blood flow in pig.

An original model of auxiliary heterotopic liver graft perfused by splenopancreatic venous blood flow is studied in pig. Separate portal inflow is performed for each liver and permits efficient function in both graft and native liver. Ten pigs were evaluated 90 days after transplantation, five without portal graft reperfusion (group 1) and five with portal graft reperfusion by splenopancreatic venous blood flow (group 2). Mean biliary output was 4.8 +/- 3.3 ml/hr in group 1, 9.6 +/- 2.3 ml/hr in group 2; biliary conjugated bilirubin level was 0 in group 1, 145 +/- 117 mumol/liter in group 2; intrahepatic glycogen level was 0.9 +/- 1.1 g% in group 1, 4.25 +/- 1.56 g% in group 2. Livers and grafts were weighed to evaluate hepatic mass on the 90th day. A histological examination was performed for each graft and native liver. It was shown that an auxiliary liver graft perfused by splenopancreatic venous blood flow presents satisfying metabolic function for 3 months, without atrophying and without functional impairment of native liver. This original model could be indicated in acute hepatic failure if regeneration of native liver is expected or in metabolic disease when total hepatectomy of the native liver may be unnecessary.