Cardiopulmonary Block Harvest from Rabbit: A Surgical Procedure to Retrieve Functional Heart-Lung Block from Rabbit Model

Abstract

Source: Pacheco-Baltazar, A., et al. Isolated Lung Perfusion System in the Rabbit Model. J. Vis. Exp. (2021)

In this video, we show a procedure to surgically harvest a functional cardiopulmonary block from a rabbit model. The harvested block can be used for further physiological, pharmacological or biochemical studies.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Equipment and preparation of apparatus.

1. Equipment arrangement:
   1. Set up an operating table with size according to the weight of the rabbit.
   2. Mount the cover of the artificial thorax on the steel column with the glass chamber underneath and the ventilator with a roller pump by the sides.
   3. Ensure that the cover is easily inclined to have the tracheal cannula in line with the trachea to allow a faster connection.