Extended liver resection and hepatic ischemia in pigs: a new, potentially reversible model to induce acute liver failure and study artificial liver support systems.

Background: Extended hepatectomy is a valid model for the study of acute liver failure. Since the porcine liver is comparable in size, morphology and anatomy to the human liver, we describe a technique employing hepatic ischemia and extended liver resection to induce acute liver failure in a porcine model as a means of studying bioartificial liver support.

Method: A subtotal (75-80% resection) extended left hepatectomy was performed in 7 pigs after 60 min warm ischemia of the future remnant liver. After resection, the animals were given the best supportive care and observed until death.

Results: All animals died within 18-48 h, none as a result of surgical complications. Gross appearance of the liver showed severe steatosis of the right lateral lobe, and histology revealed severe coagulative necrosis of the whole lobule.

Conclusion: This technique of extended liver resection after hepatic ischemia in the porcine model may be useful for studies of potentially reversible acute liver failure and experimental bioartificial support.