Numerical Simulation of the Hepatic Circulation

Availability of donor livers and the relatively short preservation time limit the success of liver transplantation. The use of hypothermic machine perfusion could pave the way for expansion of the donor pool. To better define optimal settings of such a device, the feasibility of using a numerical simulation model of the hepatic circulation is determined. Hemodynamics in the hepatic arterial, portal venous and hepatic venous compartments of the hepatic vascular tree was modelled using an electrical analogue. Calculated pressure and flow profiles throughout the liver were in accordance with physiologic profiles in the total circulatory system. Comparison of calculated flow values with normal control values showed a discrepancy that was explained by inaccurate diameter input data. Until more precise methods for determining vascular dimensions become available, redefining vessel diameter makes the simulation model perfectly suitable for predicting influences of temperature and/or viscosity on hepatic hemodynamics and is thereby an excellent tool in defining optimal settings for our hypothermic liver perfusion system.

[1]  A. Sánchez-Fructuoso,et al.  Non-heart beating donors. , 2004, Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association.

[2]  K. Boudjema,et al.  Effects of hypothermic machine perfusion on rat liver function depending on the route of perfusion. , 2001, Transplantation.

[3]  K. Boudjema,et al.  Comparative evaluation of Celsior solution versus Viaspan in a pig liver transplantation model. , 2001, Transplantation.

[4]  T. Minor,et al.  FIBRINOLYTIC PREFLUSH UPON LIVER RETRIEVAL FROM NON–HEART BEATING DONORS TO ENHANCE POSTPRESERVATION VIABILITY AND ENERGETIC RECOVERY UPON REPERFUSION , 2001, Transplantation.

[5]  Inge Fourneau,et al.  Type of donor aortic preservation solution and not cold ischemia time is a major determinant of biliary strictures after liver transplantation , 2001, Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society.

[6]  H. Spiegel,et al.  Evaluation of hepatic microcirculation by in vivo microscopy. , 1999, Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research.

[7]  T. Junginger,et al.  Hypothermic oscillating liver perfusion stimulates ATP synthesis prior to transplantation. , 1998, The Journal of surgical research.

[8]  Frederic Martini,et al.  Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology , 1997 .

[9]  S. Knechtle,et al.  Successful extrarenal transplantation from non-heart-beating donors. , 1995, Transplantation.

[10]  Y. Yamaoka,et al.  Seventy-two-hour preservation of porcine liver by continuous hypothermic perfusion with UW solution in comparison with simple cold storage. , 1991, The Journal of surgical research.

[11]  N Westerhof,et al.  Normalized input impedance and arterial decay time over heart period are independent of animal size. , 1991, The American journal of physiology.

[12]  J. McAnulty,et al.  Use of UW cold storage solution for machine perfusion of kidneys. , 1990, Transplantation proceedings.

[13]  T. V. van Gulik,et al.  Seventy-two-hour preservation of the canine liver by machine perfusion. , 1990, Transplantation.

[14]  S. Papson,et al.  “Model” , 1981 .

[15]  P. Richardson,et al.  Liver blood flow. I. Intrinsic and nervous control of liver blood flow. , 1981, Gastroenterology.

[16]  M. Berry,et al.  Short term preservation of porcine livers. , 1970, The Journal of surgical research.

[17]  T. Starzl,et al.  Conservation of the liver. , 1969, Transplantation proceedings.

[18]  F O Belzer,et al.  24-hour and 72-hour preservation of canine kidneys. , 1967, Lancet.

[19]  L. Maclean,et al.  Twenty-four hour liver preservation by the use of continuous pulsatile perfusion and hyperbaric oxygen. , 1967, Transplantation.

[20]  I. Gabe,et al.  An Analogue Computer Deriving Oscillatory Arterial Blood Flow from the Pressure Gradient , 1965 .

[21]  I. Gabe.  ARTERIAL BLOOD FLOW BY ANALOGUE SOLUTION OF THE NAVIER-STOKES EQUATION. , 1965, Physics in medicine and biology.

[22]  Gerard N. Jager,et al.  Oscillatory Flow Impedance in Electrical Analog of Arterial System: Representation of Sleeve Effect and Non‐Newtonian Properties of Blood , 1965, Circulation research.

[23]  J. Berg,et al.  An electrical analogue of the entire human circulatory system , 1964, Medical electronics and biological engineering.

[24]  H. Boom,et al.  The use of an analog computer in a circulation model. , 1963, Progress in cardiovascular diseases.

[25]  F. P. Mall,et al.  A study of the structural unit of the liver , 1906 .

[26]  P. Macdonald,et al.  Organ preservation. , 2006, Methods in molecular biology.

[27]  C. Esquivel,et al.  Liver transplantation from non-heart beating donors in rats: influence of viscosity and temperature of initial flushing solutions on graft function. , 1997, Liver transplantation and surgery : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society.

[28]  H. David,et al.  Alteration of the ultrastructure of the pig liver after a continuous perfusion of six hours in vitro. , 1985, Experimental pathology.

[29]  L. D. Pater,et al.  An electrical analogue of the human circulatory system , 1966 .