The effects of obstructive jaundice on liver volumetry of the rats (Experimental study)

Aim: The alterations in liver physiology secondary to bile duct obstruction directly affect management of obstructive jaundice. To decide the optimal time for surgical intervention, surgeons should be realized the expected changes in liver volume during obstructive jaundice. This study is aimed to investigate alterations in liver volume and histopathology during obstructive jaundice in rat liver.Materials and methods: Thirty two female Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 180-300 gr were used. The rats were divided into four experimental groups. Before the experiment, abdominal tomography was performed in all animals for baseline volumetric analyses. Afterwards, the main bile ducts were ligated. In group 1, volumetric analyses were repeated at 3rd days of experiment and total hepatectomy was performed for volume correlation and histological examination. Same protocol was applied in group 2 at 7th days of experiment, in group 3 at 15th days of experiment and in group 4 at 25th days of experiment. During the experiment a control group (n=4) was created with rats died due to anesthesia before bile duct ligation.Results: In group 1 there was no difference in liver volume at the end of experiment (P=0,5). In group 2, significant difference in liver volume was observed on the 7th days of experiment (P=0,01). Increment in liver volume was significantly continued at 15th days of experiment (P=0.003). At the 25th days of experiment, liver volumes of animals were increased up to 60% of liver volumes measured before bile duct ligation (P=0.002). Similar alterations were observed in wet liver weights of animals compared to control group. In group 1, the P value was 0.9. However, significance was developed day by day. P value was 0.3 in group 2. It was 0.06 in group 3. At 25th days of bile duct ligation, liver weights were increased up to 40% percent of liver weights before bile duct obstruction (P=0.002).Conclusion: In obstructive jaundice, liver volumes and liver weights were paralelly increased. Increase in liver volumes associates with difficult surgical approach to liver in clinical practice. The surgeon should be awared this time-dependent alteration in liver volume for the decision of surgical intervention in patients with obstructive jaundice.