CD rats as an animal model in the experimental study of laparoscopic hernia repair.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and efficacy of a sutureless laparoscopic hernia repair in a small animal model. The objective was to occlude the processus vaginalis with biocompatible fleece and/or fibrin glue as an alternative to suturing.


METHODS
Sixty-three male CD rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups. In group A (n=21), the internal inguinal ring was filled with 0.5 ml fibrin glue. The second group (B, n=21) also received fibrin glue, and a biocompatible fleece was placed on top. The third group consisted of control animals (C, n=21). Eleven rats in each group underwent laparoscopic surgery. The remaining rats were operated using an open technique, and the paraductal lipomas were resected in addition to inguinal ring closure.


RESULTS
Complete closure of the internal hernia ring was not achieved in any of the rats, neither in the laparoscopic group nor in the open group or the control group. The paraductal lipoma grew back to its normal size, although resection of the lipoma was performed during the first procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
The physiology of paraductal lipomas in this animal appears to make it an inadequate model for the study of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
Turial
S
S
University Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mainz, Germany. salmai.turial@unimedizin-Mainz.de
Kreutz
M
M
Häusser
S
S
Enders
J
J
Schier
F
F
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008067:Lipoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives