This study was to build a canine portal hypertension model by intra-portal administration of high polymer material polyurethane and organic solvent tetrahydrofuran mixed solutions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. Twelve local crossbreed dogs were selected randomly, with intra-portal administration of 8% (weight/volume) polyurethane-tetrahydrofuran solutions through an incision in the upper abdomen to build the portal hypertension model. We measured the portal vein pressure before modeling, during modeling, and four-, eight-, and twelve-weeks after modeling, respectively. Then we evaluated the effectiveness of the model comparing values of data with those data obtained before modeling started, which were regarded as the normal values. The results showed that the portal vein pressure rose by 2.5 times after the solution administrated instantly as much as that before modeling, and maintained at 1.5 times after 4 weeks. This method presents an easy operation, low animal mortality and reliable model of portal hypertension. Its less abdominal adhesions and its ability in keeping normal anatomic structure specially make it suit for surgical research of portal hypertension.
