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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Ex Vivo Hepatic Perfusion Through the Portal Vein in Mouse
Published on: March 9, 2022
Hepatic retractor in an ex vivo model1
Delano Gurgel Silveira1, Márcio Alencar Barreira2, Luiz Gonzaga de Moura Junior3
1Fellow Master degree, Postgraduate Program in Minimally Invasive Technology and Health Simulation, Centro Universitário Christus (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. Conception and design of the study; technical procedures; acquisition, interpretation and analysis of data; manuscript preparation and writing.
Purpose:
To discuss the use of models of hepatic retraction by laparoscopy, to present a new Hepatic Retractor (HR) and to evaluate its practicality, efficacy and safety in Esophageal Hiatus Exposure (EHE).
Methods:
Experimental cross - sectional study with a quantitative character. It was carried out in the Laboratory of Health Training of Christus University Center. The sample consisted of 12 livers of adult pigs weighing between 30 and 45 kg. A circular-shaped HR, 5 cm diameter and deformable materials was developed with a polypropylene cloth, metallic guide wire, epidural needle plastic guide and nylon string. The practicality of HR management was measured by the time required to use the instrument, efficacy by exposure to the operative field and safety by macroscopic assessment of liver damage.
Results:
The average time to complete the procedure was 3.24 minutes and reached less than 2 minutes after 12 repetitions. In eight experiments the maximum degree of EHE was obtained. No macroscopic lesions were observed.
Conclusion:
The use of HR described can broaden the operative field, without causing macroscopic liver lesions and prolonging the surgical time.
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