Establishment of Canine Partial Liver Autotransplantation Model and Protective Effect of Prostaglandin I2 on the Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury / 대한이식학회지

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of primary non function or delayed graft function after liver transplantation is not yet clearly defined. However it is presumed that these unhappy events most likely attributes to the Kupffer cell-mediated, reperfusion injury aggravating the sinusoidal endothelial cell damage following preformed ischemic insults. Prostaglandin (PG) I2 and its analogues were reported to protect the liver against ischemic injury thereby be efficacious for the use during the preservation of harvested liver. Prevention of platelet aggregation, vasodilation, stabilization of lysosomal membranes, and inhibition of thromboxane generated by platelets may be the attributable biological activities of PGI2. PURPOSES: We designed this experimental study to assess the effect of continuous PGI2 infusion during in situ liver splitting on the bile flow from liver segment during resection and after reimplantation, and to establish our unique autotransplantation model in mongrel dogs before warming-up of living donor partial liver transplantation in the clinic. METHODS: Mongrel dogs weighing 15-25 kg were used after fasting for 12 hours. After endotracheal intubation under monitoring, abdomen was opened through the Chevron incision extending to xiphoid process. Initially, the right hepatic duct was ligated and divided. The common bile duct was divided, the end being cannulated proximally and drained. Basal bile flow was measured for 1 hour as a reference value. The left partial graft including the right medial, quadrate, left medial, left lateral lobe, and the papillary process of caudate lobe was resected en bloc. After cold flushing ex vivo, the harvested segment was immediately reimplanted orthotopically. In PGI2 group, PGI2 50 microgram was slowly infused through splenic venous cannulation. After closing the abdomen, the bile flow was measured continuously. RESULTS: Eleven out of 24 dogs were alive 12 hours after surgery; 5 in PGI2 and 6 in control group. Basal mean bile flow (BF) rate were 2.9 ml/hr/100 gm of liver tissue in control vs. 2.5 ml/hr/100 gm in PGI2 group. This difference did not reach the statistical significance. However, postoperative BF increased significantly in PGI2 group; 0.45 ml/hr/100 gm in contro vs. 1.71 ml/hr/100 gm in PGI2 group (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Continuous infusion of PGI2 through the splenic vein during the harvest of the liver could mitigate the manipulation injury. The BF reflecting the quality of resected liver segment was relatively well preserved in PGI2 group after canine autotransplantation model. This model is not complicated, and will be useful for the mastery of surgical techniques for the living donor partial liver transplantation in the clinic.

Clinical Significance of Defecography in Patients with Constipation

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of defecogrophy in diagnosing the etiology and pathophysiology of constipation. A retrospective study of 56 constipated patients who had no abnormalities in colonoscopy, barium enema and rectal exam were done. METHODS: Fifty-six patients (12 men, 44 women) with constipation underwent defecography and 37 of the patients underwent colonic transit studies. Fluoroscopically guided defecography was performed with barium paste introduced into the rectum. RESULTS: Normal defecography finding was observed in thirteen of the 56 patients. Rectocele, spastic levator syndrome (nonrelaxing puborectalis syndrome), sigmoidocele, rectal prolapse, rectal intussusception were observed in 67% (38/56), 30% (20/56), 7% (4/56), 5% (3/56) and 2% (1/56) of the patients, respectively. More than one pathological finding was found in 23 (53%) patients. Of the 38 rectoceles, 17 cases were found to be associated with spastic levator syndrome. In solitary rectocele, the anorectal angles at rest, during straining were 92.65 9.08o, 108.09 14.35o, while 99.85 11.85o, 95.90 17.84o, in spastic levator syndrome. In 36 difficult bowel movements, 66% (24/36), 30% (11/36), 3% (1/36) were found to have rectocele, spastic levator syndrome, and sigmoidocele, respectively. Normal colonic transit time was observed in twenty six of the 37 patients. Abnormal findings included colonic inertia in 3 (8%) patients, hindgut dysfunction in 4 (11%) patients, and, outlet obstruction in 4 (11%) patients. Of the normal colonic transit time in 26, rectocele in sixteen, rectal prolapse in 1, spastic levator in 2 were observed. Rectoceles were observed in 2 out of 3 colonic inertia, in all 4 hindgut dysfunction, in 1 out of 4 outlet obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that constipation is often a disorder of defecation rather than a impairment of colonic motility. Defecography should be considered first of all in evaluating the pathophysiology of constipation, especially for whom complaining of difficult bowel.