Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Liver Tissue after Surgically Induced Bile Duct Ligation in Dogs

Abstract

HE current study used ultrasound to assess the induced hepatic fibrosis by ligation of common bile duct using surgical stainless-steel wire in 18 healthy local adult dogs of both sexes, weighing (20±5) kgs and aged (24±6) months. All animals were subjected to evaluated the progression of hepatic fibrosis by clinical and ultrasound examinations using a transabdominal convex transducer at frequency (5 MHz) to diagnose developing of surgically induced hepatic fibrosis at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively, after ligation of the common bile duct. Clinical results such as severe abdominal pain, anorexia, emaciation, jaundice and pale of mucus membrane were observed. Ultrasonographical examination of liver revealed dilatation of the gallbladder, common bile duct and portal vein as well as increased in thickness and echogenicity of liver tissue starting from the 7 th day post-ligation till reaching the maximum in the 21 days. There was a significant difference in echogenicity of liver parenchyma between groups during the 0,7,14 and 21 days of the experiment in all dogs p<0.01. In conclusion, the use of ultrasound imaging to diagnose, evaluate and follow-up the diffused liver disease models is feasible and beneficial value to monitor the development of levels and stages of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis of individual dogs.