The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of Fuaile medical adhesive for portal vein embolization in the treatment of a rabbit model. This study used 26 white rabbits, 14 of which were selected and assigned into seven groups (n=2) for the preliminary experiment. Fuaile medical adhesive was mixed with lipiodol at different ratios of 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5 and 0:1, respectively, and administered via the portal trunk. The remaining 12 white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (n=6). The evaluation of the results included the degree of adhesion to the vessels, the extent of embolization and the reaction of the rabbit. Hepatic and renal functions were detected prior to and at 1, 7 and 14 days post-embolization, respectively. Angiography, CT scans and pathological examinations were conducted at post-embolization. Histological examinations revealed that the topical swollen lesions were darker. Light microscopy showed embolic agents in the portal venous blood vessels and the formation of a secondary thrombus. Hepatic necrosis appeared surrounding the embolization area. Inflammatory cell infiltration of different degrees occurred in the early stage and inflammatory fibroplasia occurred in the late stage. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased at 1 day post-embolization, peaked at 7 days and was in the normal range at 14 days. The levels of blood urea nitrogen and ceruloplasmin were elevated at 1 day post-embolization and lowered to normal at 7 days. Fuaile medical adhesive is an effective, safe and inexpensive agent, used for effectively inducing embolization in the portal trunk, and the first and second branches of rabbit portal veins. The use of Fuaile therefore merits widespread application in clinical practice.
Keywords: Fuaile medical adhesive; portal vein embolization.