Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Availability of donor livers and the relatively short preservation time limit the success of liver transplantation. The use of hypothermic machine perfusion could pave the way for expansion of the donor pool. To better define optimal settings of such a device, the feasibility of using a numerical simulation model of the hepatic circulation is determined. Hemodynamics in the hepatic arterial, portal venous and hepatic venous compartments of the hepatic vascular tree was modelled using an electrical analogue. Calculated pressure and flow profiles throughout the liver were in accordance with physiologic profiles in the total circulatory system. Comparison of calculated flow values with normal control values showed a discrepancy that was explained by inaccurate diameter input data. Until more precise methods for determining vascular dimensions become available, redefining vessel diameter makes the simulation model perfectly suitable for predicting influences of temperature and/or viscosity on hepatic hemodynamics and is thereby an excellent tool in defining optimal settings for our hypothermic liver perfusion system.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/039139880402700309

Type

Journal article

Journal

Int J Artif Organs

Publication Date

03/2004

Volume

27

Pages

222 - 230

Keywords

Blood Flow Velocity, Feasibility Studies, Hemodynamics, Humans, Liver Circulation, Liver, Artificial, Models, Biological