Mild hypothermia protects liver against ischemia and reperfusion injury

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether mild hypothermia could protect liver against ischemia and reperfusion injury in pigs. Methods: Twenty-four healthy pigs were randomly divided into normothermia, mild hypothermia and normal control groups. The experimental procedure consisted of temporary interruption of blood flow to total hepatic lobe for different lengths of time and subsequent reperfusion. Hepatic tissue oxygen pressure (PtiO2) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values were evaluated, and ultrastructural analysis was carried out for all samples. Results: Serum AST was significantly lower, and hepatic PtiO2 values were significantly higher in the mild hypothermia group than in the normothermia group during liver ischemia-reperfusion periods (P = 0.032, P = 0.028). Meanwhile, the histopathologic injury of liver induced by ischemia-reperfusion was significantly improved in the mild hypothermia group, compared with that in the normothermia group. Conclusion: Mild hypothermia can protect the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury in pigs. © 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.