Novel technique for suprahepatic vena cava reconstruction in rat orthotopic liver transplantation

In previous studies, the suture technique and the cuff method were applied to anastomoses of the suprahepatic vena cava (SHVC) in rat orthotopic liver transplantation. However, the anastomosis of SHVC is difficult during transplantation because of the short length of the SHVC. Here, we developed a novel method for anastomoses of SHVC, using a veno-lined stent technique. The veno-lined stent for SHVC anastomosis was prepared after the donor operation. The special veno-lined stent was a 4.0-mm-long polythene tube in which a venous segment from the donor was lined. During the recipient operation, the donor SHVC was anastomosed end-to-end to the recipient SHVC, using the veno-lined stent. Anastomoses of the portal vein and infrahepatic vena cava were performed using a cuff technique. Continuity of the bile duct was established using a stent. The hepatic artery was ligated, and the graft was not arterialized. As controls, the unlined stent, the suture technique, and the cuff method were also used for SHVC anastomoses, respectively, as three control groups with the identical procedures above. In total, 30 orthotopic liver isografts were performed using the veno-lined stent technique. The survival rate was 90% (27/30) after 1 week and 70% (21/30) after 2 months, with normal hepatocellular function. The SHVC anastomosis using a veno-lined stent took 10 +/- 2 (mean +/- SD) min. The anhepatic phase, recipient operative time, and complete operation time were about 14 +/- 2 min, 40 +/- 5 min, and 120 +/- 10 min, respectively. However, in the nonlined stent control group, a total of 20 orthotopic liver isografts used the nonlined stent for SHVC anastomoses, and all failed because of venous thrombosis in SHVC; none survived over 1 week. In the suture technique control group, 40 orthotopic liver isografts were performed using a suture technique for SHVC anastomoses. The results showed no significant difference with those of the veno-lined stent method. But in the cuff method control group, of all 20 orthotopic liver isografts performed using the cuff method for SHVC anastomoses, 10 failed because of failed ligation on the anastomostic site. The survival rates at 1 week and 2 months postoperatively were significantly different from those of the veno-lined stent method. The veno-lined stent technique provides a novel, simple, and reliable method for SHVC anastomoses. It avoids bleeding during suture and the ligation difficulties found with the cuff method. The operation's success rate is satisfactory. This model is successful, and could be applied in various experimental studies.