A modified two-cuff technique for rat orthotopic liver transplantation model

Objective To develop a modified two-cuff technique for the rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation.Methods Some details of Kamada′s method were modified.The donor′s liver was doubly perfused through the abdominal aorta before the liver was removed.During the anhepatic period,the anastomosis of the suprahepatic vena cave(SVC) was made by end-to-end suturing.The continuity in both the infrahepatic vena cave(IVC) and the portal vein(PV) of the recipient was re-established by means of cuff method.The perioperative treatment was intensified.Results 160 trials of the modified method of orthotopic liver transplantation were made in rats.The mean time for donor operation and recipient operation was 35 min and 45 min respectively,and the anhepatic time was 12 min.The two-day and one-week survival rates were 97% and 95% respectively.Conclusion The modified two-cuffed method is convenient and allows a shorter period of anhepatic time.It can remarkably improve the stability and the successful rate of the rat orthotopic liver transplantation model.