Lack of susceptibility to ischemic necrosis of the remnant liver following partial hepatectomy in the rat

Background/Aims: The increase in liver lobule dimensions that occurs following partial hepatectomy could predispose living related donors to ischemic hepatic injury were shock-like states to occur in the future. Methodology: In the present study, rats that had undergone 70% partial hepatectomies or sham surgery six weeks earlier were progressively bled to a maximum of 40% total circulating blood volume. Results: Despite significant increases in liver lobule dimensions (1.5x controls), hepatectomized rats did not manifest biochemical or histologic evidence of early or more extensive hepatic injury when compared to sham-operated controls. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that despite theoretical concerns, living related donors are not predisposed to develop ischemic hepatic injury were shock-like states to develop in the future.