CONTINUOUS RAT INTRAVENOUS-INFUSION

Hypovolemic shock and ischemic injury to the graft commonly cause deat h in small animals after organ transplantation. A venous line must be readily available to replace fluids before fatal complications occur. To establish a venous line, researchers expose a vein by preliminary s urgery. This time-consuming procedure adds unnecessary trauma to the r ecipient and worsens the results. The possibility of long-term fluid t ransfusion in small animals by serial injections at close intervals is quite limited. We describe a simple technique of continuous IV infusi on by catheterization of the rat dorsal penile vein with a 24-gauge, 3 /4-inch catheter. This easy-to-learn technique has permitted us to est ablish a venous line quickly without trauma in 148 rats while doing do nor and recipient procedures for small bowel and ileocecal segment tra nsplantation. The technique we describe has eliminated one of the most frequent causes of postoperative mortality after organ transplantatio n-hypovolemic shock. We would like to emphasize that other measures, i ncluding avoiding massive bleeding and reducing operative and warm isc hemic time, are also very important in preventing this complication. T he massive IV infusion alone may not totally eliminate hypovolemic sho ck if other factors are neglected. The use of this technique has allow ed us to perform small bowel transplantation with 90% success.