Retransplantation of the liver in the rat

A successful technique of liver retransplantation in the rat is described. Heterotopic nonauxiliary liver engraftment of a whole liver using cuffed anastomoses is the primary transplant procedure. The graft is implanted in the right hypochondrium and is revascularized by a portal end-to-end anastomosis. Venous drainage is via an end-to-side anastomosis between the donor infrahepatic vena cava and recipient right renal vein. The graft suprahepatic vena cava is ligated. Biliary drainage is achieved by a double stent anastomosis of the biliary ducts. Total parenchymectomy of the recipient's liver is completed leaving intact the intrahepatic and suprahepatic vena cava. Retransplantation in the orthotopic position can thus be attempted, after removal of the first graft, by cuffed anastomoses between the donor and recipient portal veins, infrahepatic vena cava and a double stent anastomosis of the common bile ducts. Anastomosis between the donor and recipient suprahepatic vena cava is completed with a 7/0 Prolene running suture. In the first group of operations (n = 6), a three week survival rate of 50% after retransplantation was obtained. Using the technical lessons of these preliminary cases, 80% of the second group of operations (n = 5), were successful in the long term. Utilization of this new technique may allow further investigations in different fields of research dealing with liver surgery and transplantation.