Estimation of hepatic blood flow by means of xenon 133

Regional hepatic blood flow was measured by flow methods using 133-Xenon washout technique. 1. 'portal method' (injection of 133-Xe into the spleen), 2. 'arterial method' (133-Xe into the A.hepatica proprial), 3. 'retrograde venous method' (133 Xe into the hepatic vein) and 4. 'percutaneous intrahepatic method' (133-Xe into the hepatic parenchyma). The portal method showed in patients without liver disease (n=5) a hepatic blood flow of 105,8+, in cirrhotic patients (n=26) of 58,9+, in decompensated cirrhotic patients (n=14) of 35,4+ and in chronic hepatitis (n=4) of 105,7+. The adventage of this method is that extra-and intrahepatic shunts can be visualized simultaneously. The arterial method was performed in 21 patients and we found a hepatic blood flow in patients without disease (n=2) of 89,9+ and in cirrhosis of 48,8+. Direct comparison of the portal and the arterial method was performed in 8 patients and gave a very good correlation (r=0.91). The retrograde venous method showed a hepatic blood flow of 53,1+ in 12 patients with cirrhosis. Comparison of the retrograde venous method and the portal method showed good correlation (r=0.87). The percutaneous intrahepatic method was performed in 7 cirrhotic patients and we found a liver blood flow of 36,4+. The data obtained with this method could not be compared with any other method till now. (Author)