The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of
nitric oxide on systemic hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism following acute hepatic inflow occlusion. Fourteen mongrel pigs received solvent (control group, n = 4), the nitric synthesis inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME group, n = 5), or the substrate for
nitric oxide synthesis L-arginine (L-arginine group, n = 5) 30 min before hepatic inflow occlusion. Following 30 min of hepatic ischemia, all livers were reperfused. While all pigs in the control group and L-arginine group survived more than 7 days after reperfusion, two of five pigs in the L-NAME group died during hepatic ischemia period. However, venous oxygen saturation was significantly lower during and after ischemic period, oxygen extraction ratio was significantly higher during hepatic ischemic period in L-NAME group, and systemic vascular resistance was also significantly higher 5 and 15 min after hepatic inflow occlusion. Furthermore, lactate/pyruvate ratio was ...