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LIVER TRANSPLANTATION IN THE PIG
Author(s) -
Hunt P.,
Cocks J.,
Boer W.,
Dennis P.,
Gordon E.,
Jablonski P.,
Sali A.,
Tannenberg A.,
Yoffa D.,
Watts J. McK.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb49982.x
Subject(s) - splanchnic , transplantation , liver transplantation , shock (circulatory) , medicine , vasoactive , biology , surgery , blood flow
Liver transplantation in the pig is a technically difficult procedure. Only five of the 20 animals that received transplants survived for longer than one week in this study. The technique of transplantation and the difficulties encountered are outlined. These animals are highly sensitive to hypovolæmia, and despite adequate transfusion with compatible blood, some animals die with progressive metabolic acidosis. This sensitivity may be due to inadequate transplant liver function inhibiting retlculo‐endothelial removal of splanchnic endotoxins, and allowing release of vasoactive substances from unstable lysosomes. The hæmodynamic effects of hæmorrhaglc shock may in this manner be potentiated. The five pigs which survived the operation all demonstrated histological evidence of a rejection process in the transplanted liver; this was of a low grade in four animals, but acute rejection occurred in one.