title: Improvements of surgical techniques in a rat model of an orthotopic single lung transplant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rats are widely used in modeling orthotopic lung transplantation. Recently the introduction of the cuff technique has greatly facilitated the anastomosing procedure used during the transplant. However, the procedure is still associated with several drawbacks including twisting of blood vessels, tissue injury and the extensive time required for the procedure. This study was performed to optimize the model of rat lung transplantation (LT) with the cuff technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 adult Lewis rats received orthotopic LT with our newly modified procedures. The modified procedures were based on the traditional procedure and incorporated improvements involving orotracheal intubation; a cuff without a tail; conservative dissection in the hilum; preservation of the left lung during anastomosis; successive anatomizing of the bronchus, the pulmonary vein, and the pulmonary artery; and one operator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transplants were performed in 42 rats with a successful rate of 95.23% (40/42). The mean duration for the complete procedure was 82.93 ± 14.56 minutes. All anastomoses were completed in one attempt without vessel laceration, twisting or angulation. In our study, two animals died within three days and one animal died ten days after the operation. All grafts were well inflated with robust blood perfusion and functioned normally as demonstrated by blood gas analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a modified orthotopic LT technique that can be easily performed while overcoming major drawbacks. The modified technique has many advantages, such as easy graft implanting, shortened operation time, fewer complications and high reproducibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No,1277, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430022, PR, China.
authors.forename: Haizhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zhikun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011182:Postoperative Care; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen