ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the change of elasticity of rabbit liver following portal inflow vessels occlusion using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI). Methods Twelve Japanese white big ear rabbits were used to establish total hepatic vascular exclusion animal models by occluding the portal inflow vessels. The elasticity of rabbits' right liver was detected during the stages of baseline(T0), 5 min(T1),20min(T2) ,30min (T3)after occluding the portal inflow vessels using ARFI respectively. The elasticity of rabbit liver, levels of serum's aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and historical results of hepatic tissue during different stage were compared. Results Shear wave velocity(Vs)of rabbits' right livers in T2 was significantly higher than that in T0 ( P ＜0.05) and Vs of rabbits' right livers in T3 was significantly higher than that in T2 ( P ＜0.05). No significant differences of serum's AST,ALT levels between T2 and T0 were found,while the Vs of rabbit live in T2 was slightly higher than that in T0 (P＞0.05), serum's AST, ALT levels in T3 were significantly higher than that in T2 ( P ＜0.05).Historical changes of liver ischemia and injury were observed in T2 and T3 with light microscopy. Conclusions The liver ischemia and injury severity can be accurately and objectively evaluated using ARFI.