Surgical, histopathological and electron microscopic research aspects of hepatic regeneration following major hepatic resection using halothane

ABSTRACT

Twenty dogs had major hepatic resection and were re-explored two- eighteen months later were included in this study. Biopsies were taken for histopathological and electron microscopic studies which showed that the hepatocytes pass into a state of hyperactivity after resection which returns to normal when the liver reached its full original size. Mortality rate following the initial surgery was 15%. The liver resumed its full pre-resection size in fifteen dogs of the seventeen which survived the initial resection. It could be also postulated that what is known as hepatic regeneration is in fact a state of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of liver cells rather than re- growth from the line of resection. All the research data were analyzed to obtain a better understanding of this unique phenomenon