Experimental Study Of Portal Vein Embolization Inducing Compensatory Hypertrophy Of The Remnant Liver

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness and safety of portal vein branch embolization inducing compensatory hypertrophy of the remnant liver. To search for an safe and effetive embolic agent , and offer a theoretic foundation for clinical portal vein branch embolization . METHODS: Forty-one adult dogs were used in this experiment, which were divided into 4 groups. Five were served as a control group , twelve were served as a gelfoam group , twelve as a Coils- gelfoam group, twelve as a absolute ethanol group. Left branch PVE was performed in each group respectively. We compared with embolization results of different embolic agents and evaluated the safety of PVE by CT and DSA examination, and the results were compared to each other using statistical analysis of Variance.RESULTS: After the procedure, the use of gelfoam for PVE was unefficient, recanalization of portal vein branch appeared after 4 weeks. The volume of group of Coils- gelfoam had increased 25.1%; that of group of absolute ethanol had increased 33.18%, without recanalization of embolized vessels, hepatic dysfunction and portal hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Portal vein branch embolization can induce atrophy of the embolized lobes and compensatory hypertrophy of the remnant liver. The portal vein branch embolization is safe and effective. There are different results by using different embolic agents for PVE. Thegroup of gelfoam bring about unefficient result , the group of combination Coils- gelfoam better, the group of absolute ethanol best.