Liver Blood Supply Characteristics and the Theoretical Basis of Hepatic Artery Embolization 2001.12.29

Liver Blood Supply Characteristics and the Theoretical Basis of Hepatic Artery Embolization 2001.12.29

The liver receives dual blood supply: hepatic artery and portal vein. The former supplies 20% of the blood and 50% of oxygen; the latter supplies 80% of the blood and 20% of oxygen. Although the latter provides less oxygen, liver cells have a tremendous tolerance for hypoxia, allowing them to compensate for up to 95%. Therefore, complete embolization of the hepatic artery poses little physiological obstacle. In malignant liver tumors, blood supply shifts from the portal vein in the early stages to the hepatic artery in the later stages—pressure is low in the early stages and high in the later stages, with the portal vein acting as an outflow pathway.