Trasplante experimental de pulmón en el cerdo. Un informe histórico

Abstract

Experimental surgery with animals is a long-evolving practice in the development of surgery. During 1987 and 1988, the Dr. Miguel Enríquez University Hospital and the National Center for Agricultural Health (CENSA) carried out interesting collaborative work in the preparation of a surgical team for organ transplantation. Objectives We carry out this work with the objective of showing the opportunities offered by collective work in the improvement of a surgical procedure, taking advantage of the possibilities of experimental surgery. Results 68 animals were used and 34 unilateral left lung transplants were performed. The first 4 operated pigs died in the first hours, from the fifth intervention 30 animals passed the 10 days of the operation and 12 pigs arrived at 31 days, the date on which they were sacrificed according to the research protocol. Immunosuppressive drugs were not used. Histopathological studies were performed on all pigs after they died. Conclusions A historical study is presented that demonstrated the need for the experimental phase in animals to perfect the surgical technique for unilateral left lung transplantation, an aspect demonstrated by the improvement in results.