Quantitative Evaluation of Hepatic Microvascular Perfusion after Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Perfusion Imaging

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate microvascular perfusion after liver ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in rabbits using the “flash-replenishment” method of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) perfusion imaging. Twenty-eight rabbits underwent either 30, 60 or 90 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. CEUS perfusion imaging was performed using the “flash-replenishment” model, and hepatic microvascular perfusion parameters, including peak intensity (PI), area under the curve (AUC), and hepatic artery-to-vein transit time (HA-HVTT), were calculated. Prolonged ischemia upregulated intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. Longer ischemia decreased PI and AUC, but increased HA-HVTT. The perfusion parameters were significantly correlated with Suzuki's pathology scores and ALT and AST levels. The “flash-replenishment” method of CEUS perfusion imaging is an accurate and non-invasive method for evaluating hepatic microvascular perfusion and provides a valuable experimental basis for early prediction of liver IRI damage after liver transplantation or liver resection.