Acute ligation of the suprarenal vena cava in animals is generally considered to have an almost prohibitive mortality rate. Therefore, in experiments necessitating the ligation of the suprarenal cava—as for the production of a common hepatic vein to facilitate hepatic function studies—the ligation has usually been performed in stages or by indirect means. This report concerns a study of the effects of acute ligation upon survival, distal venous pressure, and blood urea nitrogen levels.
Method
Healthy mongrel dogs were used. Their weights varied from 10.3 to 24.0 kg. Anesthesia was obtained by the intravenous injection of 5% thiopental sodium. Sterile technique was used. The inferior vena cava was ligated above the adrenal veins, then divided between ligatures. In a few animals, this was accomplished through an abdominal approach, using a midline or right subcostal incision. In most of the animals, it was carried out through a transthoracic approach. In the