The effect of vasopressin on portal hypertension following hepatectomy

Portal hypertension with splanchnic sequestration of blood is a serious physiologic consequence of major hepatic resection. In this study, the pharmacologic control of portal hypertension following hepatectomy was evaluated in dogs. The marked increase in portal vein pressure associated with major hepatic resection was confirmed in control experiments. Administration of vasopressin in advance of hepatectomy prevented portal hypertension following hepatectomy but caused a reduction in cardiac output. However, when some vasopressin treated dogs were given isoproterenol at the time of hepatectomy, the vasopressin induced reduction in cardiac output was corrected. The addition of isoproterenol did not interfere with the prevention of portal hypertension by vasopressin. Results of these studies suggest that the administration of vasopressin alone or in combination with isoproterenol to selected patients undergoing major hepatic resection may prevent the life threatening sequestration of blood in the splanchnic vascular bed.