Orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Abstract

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in rats is technically accessible, and it produces clinically relevant and reliable data. We describe a protocol for learning OLT (whole/reduced split, with/without hepatic artery reconstruction) in rats. We recommend the following steps as learning techniques: Stage 1. Initial experience in microsurgery and cuff methods may be acquired through heterotopic transplant rat hearts. Stage 2. Researchers should observe repeated demonstrations of OLT done by an expert. Stage 3. Recipients should survive for more than 24 hours. Stage 4. As an expert, donor and recipient operations should be completed within 20 and 50 minutes respectively. Rat OLT is a technique which requires a long training period. However, adherence to the above protocol makes it possible to learn the technique sufficiently well in a reasonable length of time for it to be applied to various research projects associated with liver transplantation.& copy 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.