A Successful Model of Small Bowel Autotransplantation in the Dog

Abstract

Experimental small bowel transplantation has continued to be a complex procedure with high mortality. We investigated the technical aspects of small bowel transplantation in an effort to define a procedure that would result in an improved survival rate. Three methods of graft harvesting were examined in a model of canine small bowel autotransplantation. Harvesting the graft by first flushing with room-temperature lactated Ringer's followed by iced lactated Ringer's resulted in the best preservation and subsequently the best survival rate (71%). Flushing with iced lactated Ringer's alone resulted in survival rates of 22 and 50% in two additional groups. We also investigated two methods of graft re anastomosis. Although either venous drainage regimen appears to be suitable, graft venous reanastomosis to the host portal vein resulted in a slightly higher postoperative weight than reanastomosis to the host inferior vena cava. A model of small bowel transplantation with a high long-term survival rate has been developed. This model can now be applied to studies of the various physiological aspects of small bowel transplantation.

Key Words:

• small bowel transplantation
• autotransplantation
• dog
• organ preservation