Comprehensive and innovative techniques for liver transplantation in rats: A surgical guide

Figure 2 Infra-hepatic inferior vena cava (IHIVC) branches and reconstruction. A: Right adrenal and lumbar veins flow directly into IHIVC at point of lowest edge of right inferior segment. Left adrenal and the lower lumbar veins flow into the IHIVC at the junction of the left renal vein and the IHIVC. In donor operation for IHIVC reconstruction using the cuff method, IVIHC is cut in a branch patch-fashion (red line); B: Inner side of recipient’s IHIVC is easily detected by adherent liver parenchyma. Stay sutures are made bilaterally on posterior wall, and anterior wall has some allowance for cuff insertion. Stay sutures are held by a bulldog clamp and are pulled to the cranial side. Silk thread is set behind the recipient’s IHIVC beforehand. Confirmation of quality of graft IHIVC is confirmed using saline flush. Cuff is led towards the recipient’s IHIVC, and cuff is inserted into IHIVC.