Pig-Liver Perfusion: Extracorporeal Pig-Liver Perfusion in a Patient with Acute Hepatic Failure

Three extracorporeal pig-liver perfusions on a patient, for the treatment of an acute hepatic failure, are described. The patient had massive postoperative necrosis of the liver, possibly due to halothane sensitization. There was an improvement in the patient's condition after the perfusions, but she died a few days later of a pulmonary embolism. Comparison between the pre-perfusion biopsy and autopsy specimens showed that liver cell regeneration had occurred. Histological study of the pig livers from the first two perfusions showed an accumulation of granulocytes in the liver sinusoids. The third perfusion had to be stopped after 20 minutes, owing to an acute increase in flow resistance. In this case, the histological study revealed compression of the sinusoids by oedematous liver cells and congestion of the portal areas.