Improved technique for infrahepatic vena cava reconstruction in guinea pig-to-rat liver transplantation

Guinea pig-to-rat orthotopic liver transplantation is associated with serio us technical problems contributing to impaired graft perfusion and primary graft failure. In order to shorten the procurement procedure and thereby mi nimize liver damage before flushing, a simplified technique for infrahepati c caval reconstruction was developed. Dissection of the infrahepatic vena c ava (IHVC) from adrenal glands and renal and lumbar veins represents the mo st difficult and time-consuming part of the donor operation, which is often not well tolerated by the animal; we avoided this step by using an isogene ic vena cava interposition graft (VCIG) following in situ perfusion. This g raft is connected with the IHVC trans-sected just below the liver with a cu ff technique. Donor operations lasted 15 to 20 minutes with the new techniq ue (n = 7) compared to 52 to 76 minutes with conventional technique (n = 7) . Reduced operating time was associated with markedly improved graft perfus ion and significantly better graft survival. This modification of the donor procedure for the guinea pig-to-rat liver xenograft using a VCIG significa ntly reduces operating time and improves reperfusion and recipient survival . (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.