Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
Orthotopic Left Lung Transplantation in Rats
Published on: July 3, 2025
Technical modifications of the orthotopic lung transplantation model in rats with brain-dead donors
Norberto Santana Rodríguez1, Pedro Llontop Santisteban, Ana López García
1Unidad de Cirugía Experimental, Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. norbesr@terra.es
Background:
Microsurgical lung transplantation in rats has allowed us to obtain new knowledge about lung transplantation. However, some aspects in human transplantation technique still have not been included in this model, which could interfere with the clinical interpretation and extrapolation of results.
Methods:
Twenty left lung transplantations were performed with a cuff technique and technical modifications, such as brain death induction, the control of ischemia time and retrograde perfusion in the donor and the controlled sequential reperfusion of the implanted lung in the recipient.
Results:
Survival rate was 80%. The transplanted lungs showed proper perfusion and ventilation with good permeability of the anastomoses. Signs of ischemia-reperfusion injury were observed in all animals while mild acute rejection was seen in half of them.
Conclusions:
The model shown proves valid and is very similar to the procedure carried out in humans, which would reduce the number of possible variables derived from the surgical technique when extrapolating the study results to clinical use.
