Subtotal hepatectomy: a porcine model for the study of liver regeneration

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to devise a simple, reproducible method of subtotal hepatectomy in a large animal model. Such an experimental model could be useful in the investigation of liver regeneration and liver insufficiency after partial hepatectomy. Equally, this technique could be used for assessing the effect of artificial liver support systems on both liver function and regeneration.

Materials and methods: Twenty pigs were subjected to either 70-80% liver resection (n = 11), or 85-90% liver resection (n = 9), using a simplified technique.

Results: Most tolerated the procedure well and showed restoration of full liver volume within 3 weeks. Three animals in the 90% resection group died with significantly raised levels of International Normalized Ratio (INR) and ammonia.

Conclusions: These two techniques have been shown to be easily reproducible and well tolerated by the animals and allow easy assessment of liver function and regeneration in the postoperative period. The deaths in the 90% resection group supports the hypothesis that 90% partial hepatectomy represents a model of critical residual liver parenchyma.