Splenic regeneration and blood flow after ligation of the splenic artery or partial splenectomy.

In normal, young miniature piglets, either the major arteries and the veins were ligated or three quarters of the spleen was resected using three different techniques. These techniques served as an animal model for splenic salvage in human subjects. After arterial ligation, no signs of infarction could be seen 1 and 4 weeks later, and after 6 months, normal sized spleens with enlarged vessels in the gastrolienal ligaments were found. When the splenic remnant was left at the main vessels, no obvious growth could be demonstrated after 6 months. The splenic tissue left at the smaller vessels, however, increased in size. Measurements of splenic blood flow in unanesthetized piglets 6 months after operation resulted in greater differences in perfusion per gram among the experimental groups. Not only splenic mass, but also blood flow to the whole splenic tissue seems to be an important factor in the protective function of the spleen.