Auxiliary en-bloc liver-small bowel transplantation with partial pancreas preservation in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe an auxiliary combined liver-small bowel transplantation model with the preservation of duodenum, head of pancreas and hepatic biliary system in pigs. The technique, feasibility, security and immunosuppression were commented.


METHODS
Forty outbred long-white pigs were randomized into two groups, and the auxiliary composite liver/small bowel allotransplantations were undertaken in 10 long-white pigs in each group with the recipient liver preserved. Group A was not treated with immunosuppressive drugs while group B was treated with cyclosporine A and methylprednisolone after operation. The hemodynamic changes and amylase of body fluid (including blood, urine and abdominal drain) were analyzed.


RESULTS
The average survival time of the animals was 10+/-1.929 d (6 to 25 d) in group A while more than 30 d in group B. The pigs could tolerate the hemodynamic fluctuation during operation and the hemodynamic parameters recovered to normal 2 h after blood reperfusion. The transient high amylase level was decreased to normal one week after operation and autopsy showed no pancreatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Auxiliary en-bloc liver-small bowel transplantation with partial pancreas preservation is a feasible and safe model with simplified surgical techniques for composite liver/small bowel transplantation. This model may be used as a preclinical training model for clinical transplantation method, clinical liver-small bowel transplantation related complication research, basic research including immunosuppressive treatment, organ preservation, acute rejection, chronic rejection, immuno-tolerance and xenotransplantation.
Yin
Zhen-Yu
ZY
Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen 361004, Fujian Province, China. davidmd@sohu.com
Ni
Xiao-Dong
XD
Jiang
Feng
F
Li
Ning
N
Li
You-Sheng
YS
Wang
Xiao-Ming
XM
Li
Jie-Shou
JS
D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000637:transplantation*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D015996:Survival Rate; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000379:methods*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000681:Amylases