Effect of Temporary Hepatic Venous Occlusion on Hepatic Arterial Embolization: An Experimental Study

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors evaluated the effect of hepatic venous occlusion on hepatic arterial embolization in rats. METHODS. A Lipiodol-Iopamidol mixture was injected into the proper hepatic artery in rats during clamping the right side of the hepatic venous confluence. The distribution of Lipiodol-Iopamidol mixture in the sinusoids was analyzed by histological examination with en bloc silver impregnation. The extent of the distribution of Lipiodol-Iopamidol mixture was compared in sinusoids with hepatic venous occlusion and in sinusoids without hepatic venous occlusion. RESULTS. Lipiodol-Iopamidol mixture was more widely distributed in the lobules with hepatic venous occlusion than in the lobules without occlusion. CONCLUSIONS. Hepatic venous occlusion may enhance the effect of hepatic arterial embolization using Lipiodol emulsions and could be useful in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.