Simplified Techniques in Rat Heterotopic Small Bowel Transplantation

Abstract: Aim: Establish a simplified heterotopic small bowel transplantation (SBT) in the rat. Methods: Ninety pairs of male Wistar rats were used as donors and recipients. The whole small intestine with a vascular pedicle composed of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and portal vein (PV) was harvested as the graft. Revascularization was accomplished by end-to-side anastomosis between donor SMA and recipient infrarenal aorta and cuffed end-to-end anastomosis between donor PV and left renal vein of recipient. The distal end of graft was exteriorized to form an enterostoma. Results: Average time of an operation was 130 minutes and the mean warm ischemia time of grafts was 30 minutes. The technical success rate of this model was 100% and 7-day survival was 95.6% (86/90). Conclusion: This simplified technique was effective and practical to improve the outcome of rat heterotopic SBT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]