title: New technique of complete thymectomy in adult rats without tracheal intubation.
abstract: Adult rat thymectomy is frequently performed as part of the protocol for experiments in transplant immunology. Current methods used are either imprecise (suction methods) or require tracheal intubation (surgical technique) and are thus difficult to master. We have developed a safe technique of surgical removal of the thymus with resolution of any pneumothorax by suction through the xyphoid insertions of the diaphragm. This method is easy to learn and gives a 95% success rate.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplant Surgical Service, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delrivière
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gianello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*