Dynamic pressure measurements in the evaluation of a pancreaticolienal portal diversion model in the rat.

Diversion of portal blood away from the liver has been accomplished, in the rat, transposition of the scarified spleen, followed by later portal vein ligation. ligation. The resulting dynamic portal pressure changes have been measured. In 7 control (sham-transposed) rats, portal ligation produced a 7-fold sustained and fatal pressure increase. In 7 previously transposed rats, the increase was only 3-fold and was followed by a slow fall to a lower plateau pressure, with 100% 3 h survival; clamping the splenic pedicle converted the pressure trace of that of controls. These results support the view that splenosubcutaneous collaterals, stimulated by scarification, are essential for successful portal diversion.