title: A modified splint tubing technique for heterotopic heart transplantation in mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The complexity of surgical procedure in mouse heterotopic heart transplantation (HHT) has prevented its widespread use. The present study reported a modified technique - splint tubing technique (STT) based on cuff technique (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/10 and BALB/c mice were performed in syngeneic and allogeneic HHT using STT and CT. The main improvement is that the recipient external jugular vein and common carotid artery were independently opened a mouth and inserted a cannula to avoid the difficult operations of sleeved and everted tube. Graft function was assessed by pulse palpation, echocardiography and histopathologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten syngeneic and thirty allogeneic HHT using STT were performed with six graft losses. Ten allogeneic HHT using CT were carried out with two graft losses. Technically successful syngeneic grafts have survived to the pre-specified 30days endpoint with strong contraction. STT significantly shortened operation time compared with CT (32.33±4.21min vs 45.15±4.89min, P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in survival time between two methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STT is easily learned. It reduces the operation difficulty and makes the operation possible for the beginner to master this skill within 1-2weeks. Shorter operation time leads higher operative success rate.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Ministry of Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Chengwen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Yingjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wenqiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shengfu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Youping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000503:physiopathology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014185:Transplantation, Isogeneic