This study was conducted to evaluate various methods to reduce the mortality rate following acute portal vein occlusion in rat: systemic heparinization, intravenous saline infusion, enteral antibiotics and simultaneous clamping of the superior mesenteric artery were tested alone or in combination. Each of these treatments improved the survival rate after 45 or 60 min occlusion of the portal vein; combination of all treatments provided better results than each treatment alone. These results indicate that, following acute portal vein occlusion in the rat, several factors cooperate to cause death. The decrease in mean arterial blood pressure during occlusion of the portal vein was correlated with the mortality rate; this correlation was significant in the animals with 45 min occlusion of the portal vein. It appeared in this study that, when used in association, simple therapeutic methods are highly effective in improving the survival rate following acute portal vein occlusion in the rat.