Objective  To summarize and analyze the key procedures of the modified rat model of orthotopic left lung transplantation, aiming to provide more experience for the establishment of rat models of lung transplantation.

  Methods  Two surgeons (A and B) performed complete transplantation in consecutive 15 rat models, and every 5 surgeries were divided into 1 practice stage. The operating time of each transplantation procedure was recorded. The differences of overall success rate and 1-week survival rate were calculated among different practice stages. The learning curve was delineated by the cumulative sum method.

  Results  For surgeons A and B, the number of the first successful transplantation was the 5th and 6th time, the overall success rates of transplantation were 80% and 87% respectively, and the 1-week survival rates of rats both were 92%. Along with the increasing number of surgeries, the entire cardiopulmonary procurement, cannula preparation, cold ischemia, warm ischemia, transplantation and total operation time by two surgeons showed a significantly downward trend (all P < 0.05). For surgeons A and B, 3 and 2 rats died of heart failure due to overdose anesthesia, and 1 rat died of vein distortion at postoperative 1 d and 1 died of atelectasis at postoperative 7 d, respectively. The goodness of fit (R²) of cumulative sum method was 0.992 8 and 0.976 6. The turning point of learning curve was achieved in the 7th and 8th transplantation for surgeons A and B.

  Conclusions  The modified rat model of orthotopic left lung transplantation yields high operability and repeatability both theoretically and technologically, and has multiple advantages of short learning curve, short operation time, high survival rate of the recipients and few complications, which is worthy of application in the basic research of lung transplantation.