Effects of preoperative transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) on the liver following partial hepatectomy in rats

The safety of pre-operative transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), especially on the relation to hepatic regeneration following partial hepatectomy, was evaluated in rats. TAE was done through a catheter cannulated into hepatic artery under laparotomy. The remarkable elevation of S-GOT and S-GPT levels were demonstrated a day after TAE, which returned to normal on third post operative day. No influence of the difference of embolized materials was seen on the changes of transaminase levels. TAE severely decreased hepatic microsomal functional mass measured by [14C]-aminopyrine breath test (ABT) and the recovery of microsomal functional mass was shown on the 14th day after TAE. Histologically, recanalization could not be revealed in embolized arterioles even on the 21st day after TAE. But trabecular pattern of hepatic lobules was preserved after TAE. The serious inhibition of DNA synthesis of regenerating liver was demonstrated when TAE was performed within 14 days prior to partial hepatectomy (p less than 0.001-0.05). The period from TAE to partial hepatectomy had a influence on the survival rate after partial hepatectomy, and when appropriate interval was taken after TAE, the survival rate increased significantly (33%-50% in 24 hours interval and 88% in 14 days interval). In conclusion, preoperative TAE remarkably suppressed hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy, and appropriate time when suppressed hepatic functional mass, such as microsomal functional mass measured by ABT, returned to pre TAE value was required to perform hepatectomy in safety.