Detailed modified technique for safer harvesting and preparation of liver graft in the rat.

Liver procurement and preparation for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in the rat is the first stage for beginners aiming to acquire mastery of this model. It requires extensive and precise dissection in which each detail must provide security for the procurement and perfection for the future graft. Many technical details, "tricks and secrets," remain known only by expert teams, so that the learning phase can be long or unsuccessful if a period in such a team is not possible. We describe this procedure in great detail, including many improvements to the original technique. Complete illustration is provided to enable an easier appreciation of what remains the critical first part of the most difficult transplant model to perform in the rat.