Efficient nonarterialized mouse liver transplantation using 3-dimensional-printed instruments.
Because of the wide availability of genetically modified animals, mouse orthotopic liver transplantation is often preferred over rat liver transplantation. We present a simplified mouse liver transplantation technique and compare transplantation outcomes with versus without hepatic artery anastomosis. Instruments for liver implantation were designed and printed with a 3-dimensional (3D) printer. The suprahepatic vena cava anastomosis was performed with a 10-0 running suture. The vena porta and infrahepatic vena cava were joined on extraluminal cuffs, using the 3D-printed device for spatial alignment and stabilization. The hepatic artery was reconstructed in half of the recipients using intraluminal stents. Liver function tests (3, 7, and 28 days) and histology (7 and 28 days) were assessed after transplantation. We performed 22 consecutive syngeneic C57BL/6 mouse orthotopic liver transplantations. The median portal clamping time was 12.5 ± 1.5 minutes. The survival rate at 4 weeks was 100% for both arterialized and nonarterialized recipients (n = 7, 4 recipients of each group being killed for early histology at day 7). Liver function tests at 3, 7, and 28 days were similar between arterialized versus nonarterialized groups. Liver parenchyma demonstrated only irrelevant abnormalities in both groups. The proposed device allows for a shorter clamping time compared with the published literature. Using this technique, the artery does not need to be anastomosed, with no impact on graft and recipient outcomes. The device is available for 3D printing. Liver Transplantation 22 1688-1696 2016 AASLD.
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Graziano
G
Oldani
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Stéphanie
S
Lacotte
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Lorenzo A
LA
Orci
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Vaihere
V
Delaune
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Florence
F
Slits
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Quentin
Q
Gex
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Philippe
P
Morel
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.|Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Laura
L
Rubbia-Brandt
Division of Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Christian
C
Toso
D064591:Allografts / Q000098:blood supply*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D006085:Graft Survival; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D061646:Operative Time; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D015996:Survival Rate; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery