title: Experience with cuff rearterialization in 600 orthotopic liver grafts in the rat.
abstract: The model of orthotopic rat liver transplantation has been a useful tool in transplantation research for two decades. Due to technical problems, the optional hepatic artery anastomosis is not performed in many experiments. Recently developed techniques, however, have made rearterialization a simple procedure. With our technique of cuff rearterialization to the recipient common hepatic artery, in 600 rat liver grafts we achieved high viability, and an early patency rate of 100%. Patency rates after 2 and 21 days were nearly 90%. Cuff rearterialization is simple, rapid to perform, and provides a physiologic model. Compared to strictly venous liver grafts, rearterialized grafts demonstrate improvement in survival, more rapid normalization of liver function parameters, a better preserved liver structure, and less biliary complications. Rearterialization is an important component of a physiologically relevant rat liver transplantation model, and non-specific changes due to arterial ischemia may adversely affect the interpretation of experimental data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Rudolf Virchow, Free University of Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knoop
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains