title: Innovative, simplified orthotopic lung transplantation in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various techniques of orthotopic single lung transplantation in rats have been reported; however, their widespread use has been limited owing to the complexity of the procedure. We report a novel microsurgical lung transplantation model in rats with a high survival rate that can be performed by one surgeon alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 left lung allografts were transplanted from Fischer to Wistar Kyoto rats. We developed a triple axis precision system to place and stabilize the vascular clips intrathoracically to clamp the bronchovascular structures, thereby avoiding interference with the heart and contralateral lung movement. A single-suture bronchial anastomosis technique and proximal cuffing approach for vascular anastomosis was used, rendering surgical assistance unnecessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our recent series, both short-term (12 h) and long-term (21 d) survival was 100%. The lungs showed excellent perfusion and ventilation immediately on transplantation. Blood gas samples drawn from the left pulmonary vein and the histologic sections revealed excellent graft function. The donor operation lasted 20 ± 2 min, donor left lung dissection required 20 ± 2 min, and implantation required 90 ± 5 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present innovative method of left orthotopic single lung transplantation can be performed by one experienced surgeon alone, with excellent results and a high degree of reproducibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: andreas.habertheuer@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habertheuer
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocher
authors.forename: Guenther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laufer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petzelbauer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreas
authors.forename: Seyedhossein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aharinejad
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D023421:Models, Animal; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards
keywords: Experimental lung transplantation