Effects of hypoxia and hyperthermia on hepatic tissue of the dog

¹ Departments of Surgery and Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas

This work was done to evaluate the effects of hepatic hypoxia and hyperthermia in the dog. Hepatic temperature changes were produced by portal vein perfusion and hypoxia by hepatic arterial inflow occlusion. The extracorporeal circuit consisted of a heat exchanger, plastic tubing, pump, and heating jacket. Blood passed from the femoral artery or jugular vein through the extracorporeal circuit and returned to the portal vein. Forty-two animals were studied. Simple arterial inflow occlusion for 1 hr caused death in three of five animals. Perfusion of the liver with venous blood during hepatic artery occlusion was followed by death in all animals while survival was obtained when arterial blood perfusate was utilized. Death occurred if hepatic temperature exceeded 43 C, with one exception. Portal vein infusion without hepatic anoxia resulted in survival of animals following short periods of hepatic hyperthermia up to 46 C. The greatest increase in serum transaminase and alkaline phosphatase followed hepatic hyperthermia or anoxia, or both. Enzyme values gradually returned to normal within 21 days. It is concluded that hepatic anoxia augments the toxic effect of hepatic hyperthermia. The cause of death was not definitely identified.

Key Words: hepatic extracorporeal circulation • hepatic hyperthermia

Submitted on April 8, 1963