Different approaches of anastomosis for suprahepatic vena cava in rat orthotopic liver transplantation

IM To study the effects of different approaches of anastomosis for suprahepatic vena cava (SVC) on orthotopic liver transplantation in rats. METHODS Orthotopic liver transplantation (n=80) was performed using SD rats as donors and recipients. Among them, 20 rats were anastomosed by cuff method for SVC, 60 cases by modified suture method. RESULTS The mean time for SVC anastomosis by cuff method was 86min, and the recipient operative and anhepatic time were 288 and 121min, respectively, with a success rate of 900%. The time for SVC anastomosis, recipient operation and anhepatic period by modified suture method were 10, 325 and 136min respectively with a success rate of 933%. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P005). The oneweek survival rate after transplantation by cuff method was 100%, and that by modified suture method 883%, the difference being (P001) significant. CONCLUSION The time for transplation and the operative success rate by modified suture method were similar to the cuff method. But, the oneweek survival rate by suture method is higher than that by cuff method.