Prevention of the short-term complications after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Objective:To investigate how to prevent the short-term complications after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats.Methods:On the basis of two-cuff technique,the donor liver was perfused through the abdominal aorta with cold perfusate. The anastomosis of the suprahepatic vena cave was sutured end-to-end with 8-0 nylon line,and the continuty of infrahepatic vena cave and portal vein were established by means of cuff method respectively. The bile duct anastomosis was performed by internal stent. Orthotopic liver transplantations were performed in 360 rats. The operation time for donor and recipient were(31.2±5)min and (45±5.5)min,respectively,and anhepatic time was(20±2.5)min.Results:The main postoperative complications included:bleeding in 12 rats,infrahepatic vena cave thrombosis in 8 rats,cuff twisting or dropping in 4 rats,and biliary obstruction in 3 rats.Conclusion:The sophisticated microsurgical technique and the delicate surgical manipulation is the prerequisite of preventing operational complication,and shortening the anhepatic phase of recipient as soon as possible is the key to animal survival.