Gradual Resection of Recipient's Liver with Tri-cuff Technique in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats

Objective To develop an advanced tri-cuff technique orthotopic liver transplantation model in rats. Methods There are 56 Wistar rats included 28 of receptors and 28 of donators. Tri-cuff technique orthotopic liver transplantation was performed. The recipient's liver was kept in situ at the moment when the donor's liver was set in position, then along with the process of each vascular anastomosis, native liver was gradually removed from recipient. Results 28 rats received orthotopic liver trasplantation. This method greatly shortened the anhepatic phase (11.2 minutes for the mean time),simplified the manipulation.The operative successful rate was 92.9%. 2 rats died. Survival rate of 1 week was 82.1%. Conclusion This model could be used as an effective measure with shortening anhepatic phase and increasing survival rate for the study of liver transplantation in rats.