Perfusion studies on pancreas and liver.

Abstract

Because of the rich anastomotic supply to the pancreas, duodenum and liver, an anatomical study was undertaken with the view of determining what arteries go directly to each of these organs, so that a more exact knowledge of the direction taken by any perfused fluids could be established. A modification of Gross's 1 , 2 , 3 method of injecting the coronary vessels of the heart was used, and the tissues cleared by the Spalteholz method. A description of the method of preparation of these specimens will follow in a later paper. Proper temperature and pressure controls were used in order to approximate normal conditions in living organism.

X-ray photographs reveal that the hepatic artery coming from the coeliac axis gives off the right gastric and the large superior pancreatico-duodenal. This latter artery supplies the neck and body of the pancreas and the first portion of the duodenum. Two small branch arteries, a continuation of the hepatic, ascend to furnish the arterial supply to the liver. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery arises from the superior mesenteric artery, and supplies the head of the pancreas and the second portion of the duodenum. A rich anastomosis can be seen in both the duodenum and pancreas between the superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. The pancreas is also visualized by this method. The body and tail of the pancreas, on dissection of the specimens, are seen to be supplied by several small branches arising from the splenic artery. The veins draining the pancreas all enter the portal system. One may notice, then, that the arteries furnishing the most practical approach for direct perfusion of the pancreas are the superior and inferior pancreatico-duodenal arteries.

Perfusion experiments of these arteries were then undertaken to determine their effect upon the blood sugar and sugar excretion in the urine.