Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of
hepatic failure after liver surgery, but no method could monitor or predict it real-time during surgery. We measured bioelectrical impedance (BEI) and cell viability to assess the usefulness of BEI during I/R in rat liver. A 70% partial liver
ischemia model was used. BEI was measured at various frequencies.
Adenosine triphosphate (
ATP) content, and
palmitic acid oxidation rate were measured, and histological changes were observed in order to quantify liver cell viability. BEI changed significantly during
ischemia at low frequency. In the
ischemia group, BEI increased gradually during 60 min of
ischemia and had a tendency to plateau thereafter. The
ATP content decreased below 20% of the baseline level. In the I/R group, BEI recovered to near baseline level. After 24 hr of reperfusion, the
ATP contents decreased to below 50% in 30, 60 and 120 min of
ischemia and the
palmitic acid metabolic rates decreased to 91%, 78%, and 74%, respectively, compared with normal liver. BEI may be a good tool for monitoring I/R during liver surgery. The liver is relatively tolerant to
ischemia, however after reperfusion, liver cells may be damaged depending upon the duration of
ischemia.