Improved procedure and cannula design for simple-T cannulation at the distal ileum in growing pigs

Inserting a device (cannula) into the ileum is a common technique for studying nutrient digestibility, determining the disappearance or synthesis of a component, live tissue sampling, and inserting compounds or therapeutic agents into a specific region of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to implement improved cannulation procedures and care and management practices for cannulated pigs. Using these improved procedures, we successfully cannulated and maintained 15 pigs, each with an initial body weight of 30 kg. The newly designed cannula afforded improved stability and ease of adjustment while providing increased comfort to the pigs. The cannula was exteriorized through the last two ribs, providing excellent stability and security. To increase pig comfort, the cannulation site was washed and dried thoroughly and ointment was applied to the skin twice daily throughout the 63-day experiment. These updated procedures and maintenance practices should be considered and implemented in future experiments involving intestinal cannulation in pigs.