A purely laparoscopic four-port approach was created for left hepatectomy in pigs. A polyethylene loop was placed on the left two hepatic lobes for traction and lift. Next, penetrating ligation of the lobes using of a double row of silk sutures was performed to control bleeding. A direct hepatic transection was completed using a monopolar hook electrode without meticulous dissection of the left hepatic vein. The raw surface of the liver was coagulated and sealed with fibrin glue. Lobes were retrieved through an enlarged portal. Laparoscopic hepatic lobectomy was completed in all pigs without the use of specialized instruments and with a mean operative time of 179 +/- 9 min. No significant perioperative complications were observed. The average weight of each resected lobe was 180 +/- 51 g. Complete blood count as well as serum organics and enzyme levels normalized after about 2 weeks. During necropsy, adhesion of the hepatic raw surface to the gastric wall and omentum were observed. No other abnormalities were identified. This minimally invasive left hepatectomy technique in swine could serve as a useful model for investigating liver diseases and regeneration, and offer preclinical information to improve hepatobiliary surgical procedures.
Animals ; Female ; Hepatectomy/methods/*veterinary ; Laparoscopy/methods/veterinary ; Liver/surgery ; Male ; Postoperative Care/methods/veterinary ; Swine/*surgery ; Swine, Miniature/surgery

We investigated the effects of the oral administration of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on morphologic change and function of liver in dogs. Fifteen adult mongrel dogs (n=15) were divided into three groups: a control group (40% hepatectomy, untreated), a 250 group (40% hepatectomy, 250 mg/kg of KRG, PO), and a 500 group (40% hepatectomy, 500 mg/kg of KRG, PO). The liver regeneration, histologic findings, CBC (WBC, RBC, PCV, and PLT), and liver function tests (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, LDH, and T-bil) were examined during experiment. The liver regeneration rates were higher in treated groups than in the control group. But, there were no significant differences. All hematological values were within normal ranges except leukocyte counts for 3 days postoperatively. The levels of AST and ALT in the treated groups were significantly decreased compared to that in the control group (p<0.05). The numbers of degenerative cells and area of connective tissue were significantly decreased in the liver of the dog with KRG administration (p<0.01). On the basis of these results, we could conclude that KRG accelerate the liver regeneration and ameliorate the liver injury after hepatectomy in dogs.
Animals ; Blood/drug effects ; Dogs ; Female ; Hepatectomy/*veterinary ; Liver/*drug effects/*surgery ; Liver Regeneration/*drug effects ; Male ; *Panax ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/chemistry