Vascular access for extracorporeal therapy in the rabbit

A technique allowing short-term blood access for extracorporeal therapy in rabbits is described. The technique utilizes silicone rubber cannulae and teflon vessel tips to construct an externalized carotid-jugular arteriovenous shunt. The insertion procedure takes 1 h and extracorporeal blood flows in excess of 10 ml/min are obtainable for up to 7 days. Blood flow may still be obtained following shunt clotting by insertion of smaller diameter catheters through the arterial cannula. This technique has been successfully used for extracorporeal therapy in rabbit disease models.