title: Feasibility of endoscopic transgastric distal pancreatectomy in a porcine animal model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In contrast to laparoscopic tubal ligation, oophorectomy, and appendectomy, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is associated with a morbidity rate of more than 50% and a mortality rate of more than 3%.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a minimally invasive, transgastric endoscopic technique for distal pancreatectomy in a nonsurvival series in swine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal trial at a tertiary-care academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six healthy Yorkshire swine under general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-channel gastroscope was introduced into the stomach, and a gastric incision was created by using a triple-lumen, 4-mm, cutting-wire needle knife. The peritoneal cavity was accessed. An Endoloop was placed endoscopically around the distal aspect of the pancreas, and the tail of the pancreas was transected by using a diathermic snare. One to 3 hemoclips were placed across the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic specimen was retrieved, and the gastrotomy was closed endoscopically with metal clips. The animals were euthanized after the procedure. The abdominal cavity was examined grossly, and the resected pancreas was examined histologically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feasibility of endoscopic transgastric distal pancreatectomy and rate of complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pancreatic tail was successfully resected via a transgastric endoscopic approach in all animals. The procedure took an average (standard deviation) of 77.3 +/- 18.9 minutes. There was 1 complication, an episode of bleeding from a splenic laceration, which resulted in the loss of 250 mL of blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nonsurvival series, animal study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transgastric endoscopic distal pancreatectomy is technically feasible and can be performed in the porcine animal model.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Matthes
authors: Tony E
authors: TE
authors: Yusuf
authors: Field F
authors: FF
authors: Willingham
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Mino-Kenudson
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Rattner
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Brugge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome