Improvements of surgical techniques in a rat model of an orthotopic single lung transplant

Abstract

BackgroundRats are widely used in modeling orthotopic lung transplantation. Recently the introduction of the cuff technique has greatly facilitated the anastomosing procedure used during the transplant. However, the procedure is still associated with several drawbacks including twisting of blood vessels, tissue injury and the extensive time required for the procedure. This study was performed to optimize the model of rat lung transplantation (LT) with the cuff technique.MethodsA total of 42 adult Lewis rats received orthotopic LT with our newly modified procedures. The modified procedures were based on the traditional procedure and incorporated improvements involving orotracheal intubation; a cuff without a tail; conservative dissection in the hilum; preservation of the left lung during anastomosis; successive anatomizing of the bronchus, the pulmonary vein, and the pulmonary artery; and one operator.ResultsTransplants were performed in 42 rats with a successful rate of 95.23% (40/42). The mean duration for the complete procedure was 82.93 ± 14.56 minutes. All anastomoses were completed in one attempt without vessel laceration, twisting or angulation. In our study, two animals died within three days and one animal died ten days after the operation. All grafts were well inflated with robust blood perfusion and functioned normally as demonstrated by blood gas analysis.ConclusionsWe have developed a modified orthotopic LT technique that can be easily performed while overcoming major drawbacks. The modified technique has many advantages, such as easy graft implanting, shortened operation time, fewer complications and high reproducibility.

Improvements of the Surgical Technique on the Established Mouse Model of Orthotopic Single Lung Transplantation

“…Besides the gentle and careful operative techniques, we made the conservative dissections at the base of the vessel which were enough for placing the 8-0 silk with a slipknot to occlude the left lung blood flow and putting in preset ligatures between the three structures. This modified technique followed the example of method described by our group in the rat model recently [ 8 ]. The improvement not only had fewer injuries for the pulmonary vein and the bronchial blood supply, but also reduced operative time compared to that seen with the traditional procedure.…”

“…We have been using the cuff technique for several years in the rat LT model [ 6 - 8 ]. Based on our experience with orthotopic LT in rats, we recently have successfully established the mouse orthotopic LT model [ 9 ].…”

T cell immunohistochemistry refines lung transplant acute rejection diagnosis and grading

“…Left lung from LEW rats were orthotopicly implanted into LEW (syngeneic control, n = 40) or BN recipients (allogeneic, n = 40) as described before [7]. Lung grafts were harvested from CO 2 euthanized recipients on day 3, 7, 14 and 28 after transplantation for histological and immunohistochemical analyses.…”

Anastomotic techniques for rat lung transplantation

“…Additionally, we impress two grooves on the cuff with the back of a razor blade against the stylet of the angiocatheter to facilitate positioning of the circumferential ties[ 8 ]. Additionally, the surfaces of the cuff can be roughened with sandpaper to make the donor vessels less prone to slip while they are everted over the cuff[ 9 , 10 ].…”