Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 16, Issue 8 549-554, Copyright © 1997 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Effect of respiration, exercise, and food intake on hepatic vein circulation
U. K. Teichgraber, M. Gebel, T. Benter and M. P. Manns
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Since the effects of respiration, nutrition, and exercise on blood flow in
the hepatic vein are not well understood, the objective of this study was
to determine the hemodynamic influence of these factors on hepatic venous
circulation using Doppler ultrasonographic tracings. The venous blood flow
of the middle hepatic vein was determined during arrested full inspiration,
midinspiration, and expiration in 25 healthy subjects. The maximum velocity
and the systolic-to-diastolic ratio of the blood flow were measured. The
portal vein blood flow velocity was measured in 20 volunteers before and
after food intake. The portal vein blood flow and the hepatic vein flow
velocity were examined in eight volunteers after exercise. During
inspiration, maximum blood flow velocity of the hepatic veins decreased
compared to midinspiration (P < 0.001). With expiration the maximum
velocity increased (P < 0.001). After food consumption, there was no
change in the velocity of the hepatic veins, but the portal vein blood flow
increased (P = 0.041). After physical exercises, the maximum velocity of
the hepatic venous flow increased, on average, about 148% (P = 0.01), and
the portal vein blood flow decreased about 44% (P = 0.027). To achieve
standard measurements of hepatic venous blood flow, the state of
respiration and physical exertion should be established. The nutritional
status had only a minor influence on hepatic vein measurements.
