Regulated hepatic reperfusion mitigates ischemia-reperfusion injury and improves survival after prolonged liver warm ischemia: A pilot study on a novel concept of organ resuscitation in a large animal model

Johnny C. Hong, Dimitri Koroleff, Victor Xia, Chun Ming Chang, Sergio M. Duarte, Junming Xu, Charles Lassman, Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski, Ana J. Coito, Ronald W. Busuttil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) can occur during hepatic surgery and transplantation. IRI causes hepatic mitochondrial and microcirculatory impairment, resulting in acute liver dysfunction and failure. We proposed a novel strategy of regulated hepatic reperfusion (RHR) to reverse the cellular metabolic deficit that incurred during organ ischemia by using a substrate-enriched, oxygen-saturated, and leukocyte-depleted perfusate delivered under regulated reperfusion pressure, temperature, and pH. We investigate the use of RHR in mitigating IRI after a prolonged period of warm ischemia. Methods: Using a 2-hour liver warm ischemia swine model, 2 methods of liver reperfusion were compared. The control group (n = 6) received conventional reperfusion with unmodified portal venous blood under unregulated reperfusion pressure, temperature, and pH. The experimental group (n = 6) received RHR. We analyzed the effects of RHR on post-reperfusion hemodynamic changes, liver function, and 7-day animal survival. Results: RHR resulted in 100% survival compared with 50% in the control group (p = 0.05). Post-reperfusion syndrome was not observed in the RHR group, but it occurred in 83% of the control group. RHR resulted in a lesser degree of change from baseline serum alanine aminotransferase levels, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase after reperfusion compared with the control group. Histopathologic evaluation showed minimal ischemic changes in the RHR group, whereas a considerable degree of coagulative hepatocellular necrosis was observed in the control group. Conclusions: Regulated hepatic reperfusion mitigates IRI, facilitates liver function recovery, and improves survival after a prolonged period of hepatic warm ischemia. This novel strategy has potential applicability to clinical hepatic surgery and liver transplantation when marginal grafts are used.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)505-515
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume214
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

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