[Computerized liver volume for evaluation and following liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in swines].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the hepatic volume by computerized tomography using a semiautomatic computerized program of acquisition and processing digitalized images, to follow the hepatic regeneration in swine after partial hepatectomy.

METHODS: Twelve female young Landrace swine were separated in three groups according to the observation time between hepatectomy and sacrifice: G5 (5 days), G10 (10 days) and G15 (15 days). All animals were submitted to partial hepatectomy of the right lobe and followed until sacrifice, when regenerated liver was ressected. The surgical piece and the regenerated liver were weighted and submitted to tomographic volume evaluation by the software HEPATO, taking place acquisition and analysis of the tomography images in a semiautomatic way. Statistical analysis used the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests.

RESULTS: Medium weigh of regenerated liver was G5=434,5 g, G10=449,25g and G15=486,5 g (p=0,592). The regeneration index obtained using liver weight was 83,58% (G5), 94,95% (G10) and 101,63% (G15) (p=0,197). Medium volume of regenerated liver was G5=403,58 cm(2), G10=450,88 cm(2) and G15=458,93 cm(2) (p=0,941). Liver regeneration index obtained using liver volume was 74,25% (G5), 88% (G10) and 100% (G15) (p=0,326). Liver regeneration index was not different when assessed using liver weigh or liver volume.

CONCLUSION: The liver volumetric evaluation by computerized tomography using a computerized semiautomatic program of digitalized images acquisition and processing is a trustworthy method for evaluation and following the liver regeneration in swine after partial hepatectomy.