Washout of the pig liver with Haemaccel after hypothermic preservation.

ABSTRACT

In hepatic preservation by simple perfusion and hypothermic storage, a portal and hepatic washout before revascularization would avoid receptor hyperkaliema. In this report we study the effectiveness of this washout with Haemaccel at room temperature. Large-White pigs were used and eight livers were perfused "in situ" via the portal wein with Hartmann's solution containing 10,000 IU of heparin at 4 degrees C, and afterwards, via portal and arterial routes with C2 solution at 4 degrees C. After a cold ischemia time of less than 31/2 hours a liver washout via the portal vein and hepatic artery with Haemaccel before portal revascularization was done. The high concentrations of glucose, K+, GOT, GPT and LDH in the effluents obtained during the washout are attributed to Haemaccel hyperosmolarity. A portal and arterial hepatic washout associated with free drainage of the first 50-100 ml of portal venous blood after hepatic portal revascularization through the infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IH-IVC), prevents hyperkaliemia from occurring after a portal and arterial revascularization in the orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in pigs.