Videolaparoscopic orchiectomy and nephrectomy: training model in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Videolaparoscopic surgery conducted on small animals has proved to be of great importance for the improvement of surgical skills. This is a report utilizing an experimental model for laparoscopic orchiectomy and nephrectomy in training courses for urologists.


METHODS
Of 350 American Wistar rats enrolled, 319 animals underwent laparoscopic orchiectomy and nephrectomy under intraperitoneal general anesthesia. Graspers, dissectors, and a 0-degree telescope were introduced into the peritoneal cavity by two trocars of 5 mm and one of 10 mm, respectively.


RESULTS
Of 350 rats enrolled, 15 (4.2%) died due to anesthetic complications and 16 (4.5%) due to cannibalism and stress during transport. A total of 319 rats were operated on, 178 underwent bilateral orchiectomy, two per model (356 operations), and in 141 animals one nephrectomy per model (141 operations) was performed. A total of 497 operations were performed involving 140 urologists. The animals were easy to handle providing adequate practice without the occurrence of any major intraperitoneal lesion and hemorrhage.


CONCLUSIONS
Nephrectomy and orchiectomy are feasible in rats, and this model can be utilized for training videolaparoscopic surgeries.
Division of Urology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Wagner Eduardo
WE
Matheus
Victor Augusto
VA
Leitão
Marcelo
M
Thiel
Paulo César Rodrigues
PC
Palma
Roni Carvalho
RC
Fernandes
Nelson Rodrigues
NR
Netto
D000818:Animals; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery