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A perfluorocarbon emulsion, Fluosol-43, was used as a blood substitute for oxygen transport during isolation-perfusion of the dog liver at 37 and 43 °C. Preservation of hepatic functional integrity was assessed through analysis of perfusate constituents and animal survival after perfusion. Flow to the liver during perfusion was > 1 ml/min/g with one-third of total flow provided through the hepatic artery and two-thirds through the protal vein. Perfusion duration was 3 h. The pO₂ gradient across the liver indicated that oxygen was consumed during perfusion at both temperatures. The expected rise in pCO₂ and decrease in pH of the outflow perfusate is consistent with active aerobic metabolism. Perfusate chemistries lactate, pyruvate, glucose, urea, total α-amino acids, ketone bodies and SGPT demonstrated that hepatic functional integrity was maintained during perfusion. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between temperatures occurred in the perfusate levels of lactate, pyruvate, L/P ratios, glucose and total α-amino acids. Animal survival after a 3-hour perfusion was 3/4 at 37 °C, and 2/5 at 43 °C. After perfusion, SGPT levels were significantly higher in dogs subjected to perfusion at 43 °C. The success of these experiments demonstrates that perfusion of the liver with Fluosol-43 was not in itself hepatotoxic, and that Fluosol-43 may allow perfusion of the liver at 43 °C with only mild toxicity.

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