[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 1345-1357, January 1, 2012]

Appraisal of the porcine kidney autotransplantation model

Ivo C.J.H. Post1, Marcel C. Dirkes1, Michal Heger1, Johannes P.A.M. van Loon2, Bas Swildens3, Goos M. Huijzer1, Thomas M. van Gulik1

1Department of Surgery (Surgical Laboratory), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2Department of Equine Sciences and 3Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Porcine characteristics and pre-operative care
3.1. Age and sex
3.2. Housing and stress
3.3. Feeding and fasting
4. Anesthesia
4.1. Premedication
4.2. Induction
4.3. Maintenance
4.4. Recovery
4.5. Recommendations
5. Surgical considerations
5.1. Pre-nephrectomy
5.2. Nephrectomy and graft implantation
5.3. Post-transplantation
6. Postoperative management and analgesia
7. Recommendations for monitoring and maintaining porcine health
8. Discussion
9. Acknowledgements
10. References

1. ABSTRACT

Animal models are extensively used for transplantation related research, especially kidney transplantation. Porcine autotransplantation models are considered to be favorable regarding translatability to the human setting. The key determinants for translatability of the model are discussed, comprising animal age, development, anatomy, anesthesia and surgical protocols, and perioperative care. With the detailed discussion of these determinants and the pitfalls in diagnosing animal discomfort, an attempt is made to provide a uniform porcine kidney autotransplantation model with tools to improve currently used models.