Journal article

Publication year: 1999

Pages: 759-766

Journal: European Journal of Surgery

Volume number: 165

Issue number: 8

ISSN: 1102-4151

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 

Objective: To assess the effect of brain death on hormonal homeostasis, hepatic microcirculation, and histomorphology in organ donors.
Design: Prospective randomised experimental study
Setting: Institute for Surgical Research, Germany
Subjects: 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats
Interventions: 6 rats acted as controls, and 6 had brain death induced by inflation of an intracranial balloon.
Main outcome measures: Mean arterial pressure, serum concentration of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), thyroxine (T-4), free-T-4, triiodothyronine (T-3) and free-T-3, bile production, intravital fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopic appearances.
Results: After induction of brain death mean arterial pressure rose within 5 minutes followed by significant hypotension (p < 0.01). ADH concentration was reduced (p < 0.01), as was bile production (p<0.05). There was impaired sinusoidal perfusion and increased interaction between leucocytes and endothelium in the hepatic microvasculature. The electron microscopic analysis showed vacuolisation of hepatocytes.
Conclusion: macrohaemodynamics, ADH homeostasis, and the hepatic microcirculation deteriorate after brain death, which leads to histomorphological damage of hepatocytes and compromised liver function.

Harvard Citation style: Okamoto, S., Corso, C., Kondo, T., Leiderer, R., Rascher, W., Yamamoto, Y., et al. (1999) Changes in hepatic microcirculation and histomorphology in brain-dead organ donors: An experimental study in rats, European Journal of Surgery, 165(8), pp. 759-766

APA Citation style: Okamoto, S., Corso, C., Kondo, T., Leiderer, R., Rascher, W., Yamamoto, Y., Yamaoka, Y., & Messmer, K. (1999). Changes in hepatic microcirculation and histomorphology in brain-dead organ donors: An experimental study in rats. European Journal of Surgery. 165(8), 759-766.