Auxiliary liver transplantation in acute liver failure in the rat - an illustrated description of a new surgical approach

Introduction:To investigate auxiliary liver transplantation successfully in rats suffering from acute liver failure, we developed a new surgical approach. Methods: A 70% hepatectomized liver graft was implanted into the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The donor portal vein was anastomosed with the recipient's right renal artery using the splint technique. The donor infrahepatic vena cava was attached onto the recipient vena cava end to side. The bile duct was implanted into the duodenum.