title: [Anatomic study of small intestinal vessel in piglet small intestine transplantation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the anatomy of the small intestine,and investigate the optimal selection of donors,recipients,and their small intestine vessels in piglet small intestine transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The weight and length of 30 piglets were measured. Angiography and pigments perfusion were used to observe the main vessels of the small intestine,and the length of the small intestine,and the external diameter of the main vessels of the small intestine were measured in vivo and ex vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of the small intestine was 11.5 times as long as the body length, and its weight accounted for 2.3% of the body weight. The outer diameters of abdominal aorta (AT), mesenteric anterior artery (MAA) and its 5(th)-6(th) branches in vivo and ex vitro were 4.3/4.6mm, 2.5/2.7mm and 1.9/2.2mm respectively. The total number of MAA's branches was 6-8 in general and its 5(th)-6(th) branches were the longest [(20.0 +/- 7.0) mm, (22.0 +/- 8.2) mm]. The outer diameter of mesenterial anterior vein (MAV) was 1-2 mm wider than that of MAA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AT, MAA and its 5(th)-6(th) branches are the preferable vessels for small intestine transplantation. In segmental small intestine transplantation, the length of the small intestine and body weight can be used to primarily select the suitable animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Chao-qi
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiao-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: You-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Chun-zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Mao-li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiao-lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hua-dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature