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Updated: May 22, 2026
Surgical Procedures for a Rat Model of Partial Orthotopic Liver Transplantation with Hepatic Arterial Reconstruction
Published on: March 7, 2013
Hepatic arterial reconstruction for orthotopic liver transplantation in the rat
Tomohide Hori1, Lindsay B Gardner, Feng Chen
1Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA. horit@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Background:
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) models in rats have been investigated in many studies. The reconstruction of hepatic artery is required for reliable OLT and also requires advanced skills.
Methods:
The hepatic artery reconstructions by a hand-suture technique and a new method using a micro T-tube were investigated in rats with a whole-liver syngeneic graft. Operative time and postoperative patency were compared between the hand-suture and micro T-tube techniques.
Results:
Our technique using the micro T-tube shortened the operative time of recipient surgery compared with the hand-suture technique and prolonged the operative time for the donor. The patency ratio was maintained at 24h after OLT with hand suturing but was significantly reduced with the micro T-tube, which had a patency ratio of 0.83 only up to 6h after OLT.
Conclusion:
The micro T-tube technique may have potential usefulness in the rat OLT model but requires further modification.
