Published online Sep 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i9.2125
Revised: January 23, 2003
Accepted: February 11, 2003
Published online: September 15, 2003
AIM: To introduce combined liver-small bowel transplantation in pigs.
METHODS: Eighteen transplantations in 36 large white pigs were performed. Three modifications in combined liver-small bowel transplantation model were applied: Veno-venous bypass was not used. Preservation of the donor duodenum and head of pancreas in continuity with the combined graft to avoid biliary reconstruction. The splenic vein of donor was anastomosed end-to-end with the portal vein of recipients by the formation of a “cuff”.
RESULTS: Without immunosuppressive therapy, 72-hour survival rate of the transplanted animals was 72% (13/18). Five of 18 pigs operated died of respiratory failure (3 cases) and bleeding during hepatectomy (2 cases). The longest survival time of animals was 6 days.
CONCLUSION: Our surgical modifications are feasible and reliable, which have made the transplantation in pigs simpler and less aggressive, and thus these can be used for preclinical study.