Evaluation of an extracorporeal liver support system in an experimental model of acute liver failure

The increasing incidence of fulminant-viral and toxic-hepatic failure (F.H.F.) and the severe shortage of cadaveric liver donors in Greece have stressed the need for the development of liver support systems, which will be used as temporary metabolic support of F.H.F. patients until the host liver regenerates or a suitable graft is provided. The aim of the present study was to evaluate an extracorporeal liver support system (E.L.S.SY.) based on an isolated pig liver graft as a means of temporary metabolic support in a surgically induced acute liver failure (ALF) model in pigs. E.L.S.SY. application for a 6-hour period of observation showed worsening of haemodynamic condition probably due to big extracorporeal volume or circulating toxins or mediators delivered from the ischaemic hepatic tissue. However, there is evidence of: metabolic support provided by the E.L.S.SY. which could be more obvious if treatment had been instituted at an earlier stage or porcine hepatocytes substitute the isolated graft (currently under investigation).