[Animal model and modified technique of orthotopic liver transplantation in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To modify orthotopic liver transplantation method with two-cuff technique. METHODS: On the basis of cuff technique, the donor liver was perfused through the abdominal aorta with 20 ml cold perfusate. The anastomosis of the suprahepatic vena cave(SVC) was sutured end-to-end with 8/0 nylon line, and the continuity of infrahepatic vena cave(IVC) and portal vein(PV) were established by means of cuff method respectively. The bile duct anastomosis was performed by internal stent. RESULTS: Orthotopic liver transplantations were performed in 360 rats. The time for donor operation and liver preparation was (31.2 +/- 5.0) min and (12.0 +/- 3.0) min, and the recipient operative and anhepatic time was (45.0 +/- 5.5) min and (20.0 +/- 2.5) min, respectively. The two-day survival rate was 91.4%. In non-intervention group, one-week survival rate was 86.5%. CONCLUSION: The modified model is easily available and highly reproducible which provides a practical and stable experimental model for the study of liver transplantation.