Aim: To establish a successful model of heterotopic total small intestinal transplantation (SIT) in rats in order to reduce the complications and increase the survival rate.
Methods: A total of 196 Wistar rats underwent heterotopic SIT with microsurgical technique. Technical modifications included shortening fasting time and supplying energy before surgery, administering optimal volume of crystalloid fluid to the donor and recipient during surgical procedures, reducing mechanical and ischemic injuries to donor intestine, revascularizing small intestinal graft with a combination of conventional aorta to aorta anastomosis and a cuffed portal vein to left renal vein anastomosis which resulted in an acceptably short warm ischemic time, and also an adequate blood supply and drainage of the graft.
Results: The average time for the donor surgery was 86 min +/- 20 min, the mean operative time for the recipient was 115 min +/-20 min and warm ischemia time was shortened to 40 min +/- 5 min. There was a shorter revascularizing time of the graft, the abdominal aorta (AA) to AA anastomosis being 21 min +/- 10 min, and the cuffed portal vein (PV) to the renal vein anastomosis being 5 min +/- 5 min. The one-week survival rate of 98 rats with SIT was 88.78% (87/98), without thrombosis and stenosis of anastomosis. The longest survival time of recipient rats was more than 389 days after SIT, the rats were maintaining normal weight, with perfect intestinal function and intact intestinal histology.
Conclusion: These modified techniques for SIT would remarkably reduce the complications and improve survival rate in rats, which provided a potentially more consistent and practical model for experimental and clinical studies.