title: Modified technique for combined liver-small bowel transplantation in pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the conventional combined liver-small bowel transplantation is complicated with many postoperative complications, the aim of this study was to describe a modified technique for the combined liver-small bowel transplantation with preservation of the duodenum, partial head of pancreas and hepatic biliary system in pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Composite liver/small bowel allotransplantations were undertaken in 30 long-white pigs. The graft included liver, about 3 to 4 m proximal jejunum, duodenum and partial pancreatic head. Vessels reconstructions included subhepatic vena cava-vena cava anastomosis, aorta-aorta anastomosis and portal-splenic vein anastomosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Without immunosuppressive treatment, the median survival time of the animals was 6 days (2 to 12 days), and about 76.9 % (20/26) of the animals survived for more than 4 days after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified technique is feasible and safe for the composite liver/small bowel transplantation with duodenum and pancreas preserved in pigs. And also this technique can simplify the operation and decrease possible postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu Province, China. davidmd@sohu.com
authors.forename: Zhen-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: You-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie-Shou
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000637:transplantation; D004386:Duodenum / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D007583:Jejunum / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery