Selective Hepatic Artery Angiography in Regenerating Dog Liver

Abstract

Pre-and postoperative selective hepatic artery angiography was performed in 11 mongrel dogs subjected to major hepatic resection. In all cases the liver remnants increased in size with no outgrowth from the resection surface. The increase in size was indicated on the angiograms by displacement. stretching and elongation of the common hepatic artery, its major extra-and intrahepatic branches, and a marked displacement of the duodenum. The most significant finding was an increased diameter of the proper hepatic arteries in the regenerating liver. Furthermore, there was an almost complete loss of tortuosity of the smaller intrahepatic arteries and an increased radiopacity during the parenchymal phase of the regenerating liver. This observation, together with a general impression of an increase in the size and number of the smaller intrahepatic arteries, supports the suggestion that new arteries had been formed. In the regenerating dog liver arterio-portal, arterio-venous or arterio-biliary shunts are not demonstrated on the in vivo angiograms. The significance of these findings in relation to haemodynamic changes is briefly discussed.

Key-words:

• Dog liver
• hepatic artery angiography
• regeneration