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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Endotracheal Intubation via Tracheotomy and Subsequent Thoracotomy in Rats for Non-Survival Applications
Published on: March 15, 2024
Reduced perioperative immune response in video-assisted versus open surgery in a rat model
Yoshitaka Ito1, Makoto Oda, Yoshio Tsunezuka
1Department of General and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Purpose:
To establish the best technique for thoracoscopic pneumonectomy in the rat and to analyze the differences in perioperative immune response between open and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in a rat model.
Methods:
The four experimental groups studied were as follows: VATS pneumonectomy, open pneumonectomy, thoracoscopic observation, and open observation. We measured the immunocyte counts and serum cytokine levels postoperatively in each group.
Results:
The CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocyte counts were decreased significantly 12-24 h postoperatively in all groups. Immunosuppression peaked later in the open approach groups than in the VATS groups. The interleukin-6 level was significantly higher in the open approach groups than in the VATS groups.
Conclusions:
From the viewpoint of immunity, in this rat model VATS was less invasive than open surgery, and open surgery caused greater immunosuppression than VATS, irrespective of organ resection.
