Technical feasibility of laparoscopic Finney pyloroplasty examined in a canine model

The efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer has been demonstrated using minimally invasive approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of laparoscopic Finney pyloroplasty in six dogs. Under laparoscopic guidance, the anastomosis was created using mechanical devices (n = 3) and combining a linear stapler device and intracorporeal suturing (n = 3). The operative time and complications were recorded. Evaluation of the anastomosis included studies of intraoperative and postoperative endoscopy and ultrasonography as well as the complete gastric emptying time. The animals were killed 4 weeks after surgery. Measurement of luminal diameter, amount of adhesion formation, degree of healing, and inflammation or fibrosis were evaluated in the postmortem studies. The operation was successfully completed for all the animals. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. Gastric emptying was significantly enhanced in the postoperative period, as compared with the preoperative results. After 1 month, there was no evidence of anastomotic leak dehiscence at the gastroduodenal anastomosis. Luminal diameter was increased, and no abnormal findings were encountered during the postmortem abdominal exploration. The technical feasibility of performing a safe laparoscopic pyloroplasty in a dog model was demonstrated in this study.