No abstract

Background: The suppressed production of nitric oxide (NO), associated with endothelial dysfunction, is thought to be a cause of ischemia and reperfusion injury of the liver. But findings of the salutary effects of NO enhancement on such injury have been conflicting. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that NO enhancement would attenuate ischemic liver injury. For this purpose, an NO precursor, L-arginine, and a novel NO donor, FK409, were applied to a 2-hour total hepatic vascular exclusion model in dogs.

In view of the clinical variables obtained on POD3, such as amylase levels in drain effluent, body temperature, and leukocyte count, clinically relevant pancreas-related infections could be predicted well.

FTY720 has a potent immunosuppressive effect when used alone at 0.1 mg/kg/day in canine liver transplantation. FTY720 is a promising candidate for future clinical application in orthotopic liver transplantation.

The new criteria for early drain removal are safe and acceptable despite the slightly increased chance of seroma formation.