A simple technique for placement of a portacaval shunt tube in rats

We devised a new technique for the placement of portacaval shunts in rats. Using a Teflon tube with a commercially available puncture needle, we placed the tube between the infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) and the main portal branch. An upper laparotomy was performed, after which the tube attached to the needle was used to puncture the IVC from the right dorsal wall through toward the left side. Subsequently, the needle was advanced further to puncture the main portal vein. After each end of the tube had been successfully placed in the lumina of the IVC and portal vein, the needle was gently pulled out. Bleeding was controlled by compressing the puncture site gently for approximately 30s. Seven shunts out of ten were found to be patent at second laparotomies carried out 1 week after the primary tubing operation. The remaining three were occluded with white and red thrombi. No dislodging of the tube was noted, and radiography confirmed the patency of the shunt. This method is fast and simple, and yields a high patency rate, even in the hands of relatively inexperienced surgeons. It can be recommended as an experimental model for additional studies.