Small animal models are particularly suitable for lung preservation studies, because they are simple and cost-effective. This brief communication focuses on the technical description of an ex vivo lung perfusion model in rats by means of a commercially available apparatus, which was the first to be installed in a thoracic surgery research laboratory in Brazil. The model and its preparation, together with its applications for lung preservation studies, are described in detail. All technical details can also be seen in a video posted on the website of the Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology.

Keywords: Lung transplantation; Reperfusion injury; Rats; Models, animal.