Experimental liver transplantation on pigs -- technical considerations.

Abstract

UNLABELLED: The purpose was to improve and refine our technique for orthotopic liver transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Experimental interventions were performed on pigs, 26 pairs. Orthotopic transplantation was performed after lavage of the donor pig liver by pressure gradient and transplantation was performed using portocavo- jugular shunt and veno-venous, arterio-arterial and choledocho-choledochal sutures in end-to-end manner. RESULTS: Immediate survival was 88.46%. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental transplant activity on pigs is of real value, contributing to a faster learning curve and at the same time improving handling, increasing the efficiency of sutures, as well as anesthetic and surgical team building.