Partial hepatectomy was performed in dogs either as the only procedure or following a period of ischaemia of liver remnant produced by inflow occlusion for periods of 30-60 minutes before partial hepatectomy. Temporary portal decompression was maintained through the portion of liver subsequently excised. 1. Survival in dogs subjected to partial hepatectomy and ischaemia to the liver remnant was similar to that in animals after partial hepatectomy alone. 2. Metabolic changes were similar in both groups but dogs submitted to partial hepatectomy and ischaemia to the remnant had higher serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine amino-transferase levels with increased bromsulphthalein in the fourth to sixth post-operative weeks. 3. Replacement of liver mass proceeded rapidly in all groups of animals. It is concluded that ischaemia of the liver remnant for up to 60 minutes preceding partial hepatectomy in the dog is consistent with survival and produced little change in postoperative liver function or in the rate of restoration of liver mass.

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The effect of prolonged normothermic ischaemia before partial hepatectomy was assessed in 10 dogs. During the period of ischaemia, portal decompression was maintained. The survival rate for animals undergoing 75 minutes of total liver ischaemia was 60 per cent and 2 of the dogs died as a result of hypoglycaemia. High levels of alkaline phosphatase and transaminases in the survivors indicated a severe degree of hepatocyte damage. However, complete restoration of liver mass was noted 6 weeks after partial hepatectomy and was not impaired by the prolonged ischaemia. This study confirms the resistance of the dog liver to ischaemia before partial hepatectomy. The critical period beyond which ischaemia is followed by an increasing number of deaths and severe metabolic upset is in the region of 1 hours.