BACKGROUND: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the major problems in liver transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the possible improvement of aerobic metabolism of ischemic donor livers through systemic persufflation with gaseous oxygen in rinse solution.
METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. In group A (control, n=10), the livers were perfused with 4 ℃ lactic acid ringer’s solution through the cannulated portal vein for 25 minutes soon after warm ischemia for 30 minutes. In group B (n=10), the livers were treated the same way as in group A except for addition of gaseous oxygen in the rinse solution. In group C (n=10), the livers were treated similarly as in group B except for addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the rinse solution.
RESULTS: In group B, the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in hepatic tissues after perfusion were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas the SOD levels were markedly decreased (P<0.01). After combined use with antioxidant in group C, the levels of MDA and SOD in hepatic tissues after perfusion recovered significantly (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION: Perfusion by gaseous oxygen persufflation in combination with antioxidative agents is promising for resuscitating the ischemically altered livers for successful transplantation.