Intermittent or continuous occlusion of hepatic inflow.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim was to compare the effects of intermittent and continuous inflow occlusion on liver I/R injury in an experimental model. METHOD: The experiment was done using the Wistar rats that underwent continuous and intermittent inflow liver vascular occlusion. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken and parameters of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Serum activities of ALT, AST and LDH were significantly higher and ALP activity and albumin concentration were markedly lower in rats with continuous liver ischemia. Also, histopathological examination revealed more severe changes in animals with continuous liver vascular occlusion. CONCLUSION: The results of biochemical assay and histopathological examination were concurrent, both indicating more serious parenchymatous damage caused by continuous hepatic pedicle clamping. Study results clearly demonstrated a better tolerance of the liver to intermittent Pringle maneuver (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 9).