Abstract

RODRIGUEZ SANZ, M. B.; ALARCON GARCIA, J.; DEL RIEGO TOMAS, F. J.  and  VAQUERO PUERTA, C.. Effects of partial hepatectomy on the distal ileum in rats. Rev. esp. enferm. dig. [online]. 2004, vol.96, n.3, pp.185-190. ISSN 1130-0108.

Introduction: hepatectomy, both partial resection and transplant, has greatly developed and advanced during the last years as a result of a better understanding of surgical anatomy and the progress of technological means; it has also allowed a widening of surgical indications, including living-donor liver transplantation. The aims of our study was to assess the morphological impact of partial hepatectomy on the distal ileum, since the liver and intestine behave as a unit from an anatomical, functional, and metabolic point of view. Material and methods: twenty-four Wistar rats were used; they were divided into two groups, a control and an experimental group (30, 90, and 180 days). We studied changes occurred in the distal ileum after a 70% liver resection, taking 4 parameters into account. Results: an important drop in total thickness occurred at the ileum wall in the experimental group (p < 0.001). There were no important differences in villus height with regard to the control group. Thickness at the villi fell significantly (p < 0.01), as did the depth of the crypts, which diminished significantly in relation to the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: a 70% hepatectomy induces trophic changes on the distal ileum that remain in both the short and longer term, and causes atrophy of the ileum wall and a drop in villus thickness.

Keywords : Partial hepatectomy; Distal ileum.