Description of a recovery experimental general anesthesia model in rabbits for the study of the late phase of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract

Background: Experimental research on the pathophysiology of the early (<2hrs) and late phase of liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the study of possible protective strategies is important in several clinical settings (liver surgery, shock). Rabbits have advantages compared to rats due to their bigger size. However, there is difficulty to use them in recovery experiments, when endotracheal intubation is required, mainly due to the difficult airway access. Our aim is to describe a model of liver I/R in rabbits including recovery and follow-up for 24 hours. Methods: Ten male New Zealand rabbits were allocated to two groups: 1) Sham laparotomy (n=5), and 2) Control (n=5), with 45 min of partial hepatic ischemia. After anesthesia induction, rabbits were intubated. Anesthesia was maintained through mechanical ventilation with an oxygen-sevoflurane mixture for 2 hrs post reperfusion. Analgesia was administered during anesthesia induction and recovery. Blood and tissue samples were collected at baseline, 2 and 24 hrs post reperfusion. Results: Endotracheal intubation offered hemodynamic stability with avoidance of hypoxia and acidosis. Partial liver ischemia of 45 min led to significant liver injury as indicated in ALT, AST values and histology. Conclusion: Study of the existing literature suggests that this successful recovery general anesthesia model with endotracheal intubation is applied for the first time in the study of liver I-R injury in rabbits.