2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (17): 2696-2701

Rapid establishment of rat liver transplantation model by portal vein preferential reverse anastomosis

Zhang Jixiang1, Yan Hongxian2, Xuan Juanjuan1, Bai Hongtai1, Wang Yaoquan1, Wei Sidong1, Chen Guoyong1   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The traditional “two cuff” model of rat liver transplantation takes a long time to establish, which is difficult to grasp and adapt to the training of graduate students.
OBJECTIVE: As per the characteristics of multi-step establishment of liver transplantation model in rats, to rationally combine the time and method of each step so as to shorten the learning time and reduce the difficulty of operation, thereby rapidly establishing a rat model of liver transplantation.
METHODS: The portal vein was preferentially anastomosed using the two-cuff method when the blood flow of the inferior vena cava was unobstructed. The cuff was anastomosed reversely by placing the donor liver in the lower abdomen of rats (portal vein preferential anastomosis group). The rat liver transplantation model was established and compared with the traditional rat liver transplantation model (traditional transplantation group). The learning time curve, portal vein occlusion time, anhepatic phase time, inferior vena cava occlusion time, recipient operation time, and postoperative survival of the two groups were statistically analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The learning curves of 32 cases in the traditional transplantation group and 30 cases in the portal vein preferential anastomosis group were analyzed. The learning time of portal vein preferential anastomosis group was shorter than that of traditional transplantation group. The operation time of 12 rats in the traditional transplantation group and 20 rats in the portal vein preferential anastomosis group which survived over 2 days was statistically analyzed. Parameter test analysis showed that the portal vein occlusion time in the portal vein preferential anastomosis group was slightly longer than that in the traditional transplantation group, but there was no significant difference. However, the blocking time of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava in the portal vein preferential anastomosis group was (15.0±2.2) minutes, which was significantly shorter than (21.3±2.1) minutes in the traditional transplantation group (P < 0.05), and the time of infrahepatic inferior vena cava occlusion in the portal vein preferential anastomosis group was (25.0±2.9) minutes, which was significantly shorter than that [(32.5±3.2) minutes] in the traditional transplantation group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in donor perfusion time, donor operation time, donor liver repair time and recipient operation time between the two groups. Rat model of liver transplantation with portal vein preferential anastomosis can shorten the learning cycle, reduce the difficulty of operation, and provide a relatively reliable method for beginners to quickly master the establishment of rat liver transplantation model, which is suitable for learning and promotion.

Key words:portal vein preferential anastomosis, liver transplantation, reverse anastomosis, learning curve, anhepatic phase