Laparoscopic surgery in a small animal model. A simplified technique of retroperitoneal dissection in the rat.
BACKGROUND
An adequate laparoscopic small-animal model would benefit surgical oncologic research. Immunobiologic data and reagents available for the rodent make them an ideal species. We developed a simple, inexpensive, reproducible technique for laparoscopic surgery in rodents.


METHODS
Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum is achieved in anesthetized animals. Through a 0.5-cm midline incision a 4.8-mm bronchofiberscope is inserted into the peritoneal cavity and secured with a purse-string suture (PSS). Three additional PSSs are made to introduce the dissectors. Under fiberscopic vision, a blunt dissection of the retroperitoneum exposes the inferior vena cava and aorta. Necropsy 24 h after verifies the adequacy of dissection.


RESULTS
Eighteen animals survived. The only death resulted from bleeding. Mortality was 5.26%. Surgical time was 24.72 +/- 8.93 min with all animals active 2 h postlaparoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic surgery (LS) can be done inexpensively without sophisticated equipment. The rodent is ideal for examining the immunologic consequences of laparoscopic surgery and pneumoperitoneum.
Sandoval
B A
BA
Department of Surgery, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, OH 44106, USA.
Sulaiman
T T
TT
Robinson
A V
AV
Stellato
T A
TA
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004210:Dissection; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000601:surgery