Fig. 1.

Experimental protocols for auxiliary hepatic homotransplantation. A, Previously reported modification of Welch-Goodrich hepatic homotransplantation. Homograft undergoes rapid atrophy and diminution in size. Portal blood flow is from the systemic venous system. B, Preparation of group 1 dogs in present study. Non-hepatic splanchnic flow is diverted through the homograft. With this preparation, the homograft retains its size and the animal’s own liver undergoes shrinkage. It is usually more convenient to bring the hepatic artery behind, rather than in front of, the portal vein as depicted. C, Superior mesenteric vein is ligated below the splenic vein, partitioning nonhepatic splanchnic flow between the autologous liver and the homograft. Homograft shrinkage occurs but more variably (group 2). D, Auxiliary homotransplantation in group 3. The host liver is vascularized as with the portacaval transposition of Child.