Effects of hemorrhagic shock in early and late partial posthepatectomy rats.

Introduction. The purpose of the study was to determine the compensatory function of the remnant liver as a blood reservoir after 70% hepatectomy in rats to counteract hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion. Methods and materials. One hour of hemorrhagic shock followed by 1 hour of resuscitation induced in normal rats (group I) was compared with animals that had undergone 70% hepatectomy at postoperative day 3 (group II) and day 7 (group III). We compared the total blood loss, the blood pressure before hemorrhagic shock, hemoglobin, hemotocrit, and mortality. Liver function such as aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also compared among groups by one-way analysis of variance with post hoc correction. A P value less than .05 was regarded as significant. Results. The results showed a lower volume of drawn blood induced hemorrhagic shock in group II compared with group I or group III hosts. The blood loss was 15.6 +/- 1.0, 5.68 +/- 2.5, and 13.2 +/- 1.6 mL for groups I, II, and III, respectively. The mortality due to hemorrhagic shock was significantly higher in group II compared with group I or group III. Liver function tests showed that the AST and LDH were significantly higher after resuscitation in group II. Conclusion. In the early postoperative period (day 3) after 70% hepatectomy, rats were more vulnerable to a high mortality after hemorrhagic shock compared with hosts in the late postoperative period (day 7). Significantly higher AST and LDH in group II indicated that the remnant liver was more injured after hemorrhagic shock in the early postoperative period.