D. Y. LOISANCE, J. P. LENRIOT AND P. A. PERONNEAU 
1163 
Vcm 
20. 
10 
GROUP A 
Int D mm 
8.4 
Figure 2. — Portal velocity profile in normal dog (A), after SS PCS in normal dog (D) and in dogs with ligated 
supra-hepatic veins (C). 
ligated supra-hepatic veins, as the intrasinusoi- 
dal pressure and the free portal pressures were 
increased (respectively by 135 ±13% and 75 
± 32% ) , the mean portal flow rate Q2 decreased 
by 36 ±: 5% and the arterial flow rate rose by 
19 ± 10%. 
The completion of the side to side portacaval 
shunt on the first group increased the hepatic 
arterial flow rate by 99 ± 21% , and decreased 
the portal flow rate by 79 ± 5% as measured 
downstream from the shunt. The portal flow 
was then still directed towards the liver. In the 
second group, the arterial flow rate rose to 
196 ± 21 ml/min (i.e., increased by 152 ±8% 
as compared to its value prior to the shunt) . 
The portal flow rate was decreased by 122 ±: 
9% (Q2 = — 46 ±: 27 ml/min) . The portal vein 
then acted as an outflow tract for the liver, and 
23% of the hepatic arterial flow was diverted 
from the liver to the side to side portacaval 
anastomosis. 
3. Comparison of the Qi and Q2 flow rate 
values. In every experimental condition the di- 
rectly measured value of the flow rate Qi 
was higher than the computed value Qo. The 
difference in the case of a normal blood flow pat- 
tern (25% for the hepatic arterial flow, 30% 
for the portal vein flow) was considerably in- 
creased in complex flow patterns, such as in the 
portal vein, after the completion of the side to 
side portacaval shunt. In such conditions, the 
flow rate value Q7 was higher than the com- 
puted value Qo by as much as 80%. 
COMMENTS 
The experimental data presented here and 
our previous studies ^'^'^ emphasize the prac- 
tical and theoretical problems of the instanta- 
neous blood flow measurement and the definite 
advantages of the pulsed Doppler ultrasonic 
flowmetry. 
The simplicity of the present technique must 
be emphasized. Bulk and mass of the ultrasonic 
transducer have been reduced when compared 
to the electromagnetic probes. The mechanical 
hazards such as the displacement of the trans- 
ducer and the kinking of the vessel are avoided. 
