title: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish an experimental model of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in rats and to analyze morphological alterations in the renal parenchyma utilizing an electric cautery and harmonic scalpel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Wistar rats were used, divided in 2 experiments with 20 rats each: experiment I, LPN was performed with an electric cautery and the rats were subdivided into groups A and B; experiment II, LPN was performed with a harmonic scalpel and they were subdivided into groups C and D. The animals in groups A and C were sacrificed shortly after surgery and the remnant kidney was removed to study the following variables: necroses and degeneration. In groups B and D a laparatomy was performed for retrieval of the remnant kidney on the 14th day after surgery to analyze fibrous scarring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the variables necroses and fibrous scarring, the electric cautery creates, on average, greater width than that produced by the harmonic scalpel (p=0.0002 and p=0.0068 respectively). Regarding the variable of degeneration, we found no significant difference between the two types of scalpels (p=0.1267).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LPN in rats is an adequate and feasible experimental model. The electric cautery caused greater damage to remnant renal tissue when compared to harmonic scalpel.
authors: Division of Pathology, Surgery Department,PUCPR, Brazil. fmeyer@onda.com.br
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Meyer
authors: Sérgio Ossamu
authors: SO
authors: Ioshii
authors: Eduardo Wei Kin
authors: EW
authors: Chin
authors: Danielle Mussoi
authors: DM
authors: Esser
authors: Renata Tomasetti
authors: RT
authors: Marcondes
authors: Andressa Hubar
authors: AH
authors: Patriani
authors: Bruno de Figueiredo
authors: Bde F
authors: Pimpão
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects*