Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has improved a great deal since its first appl
ications in the early 1950s. if improvements are to be continued, a preclin
ical model of CPB for small animals is desirable, mainly because of conveni
ence of equipment and low costs. We review the different models of CPB for
rats that have been designed, discuss their characteristics and points wher
e improvements may be made. We give suggestions and requirements for a new
up-to-date model that could be a useful tool in continued research on the p
athophysiology and therapeutic strategies of CPB.