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Surgical Correction of Rectal Prolapse in Laboratory Mice (Mus musculus)
Abstract:
Rectal prolapse is a common clinical problem in laboratory mice. This condition may occur spontaneously, develop after genetic manipulations, result from infections with pathogens such as Citrobacter species, or arise secondary to experimental design such as colitis models. The current standard of care at our institution is limited to monitoring mice until tissue becomes ulcerated or necrotic; this strategy often leads to premature euthanasia of valuable animals prior to the study endpoint. Surgical correction of rectal prolapse is performed routinely and with minimal complications in larger species by using manual reduction with placement of a pursestring suture. In this report, we investigated whether the use of a pursestring suture was an effective treatment for mice with rectal prolapse. The procedure includes anesthetizing mice with isoflurane, manually reducing prolapsed tissue, and placing a pursestring suture of 4-0 polydioxanone. We have performed this procedure successfully in 12 mice. Complications included self-trauma, fecal impaction due to lack of defecation, and mutilation of the surgical site by cage mates. Singly housing mice for 7 d postoperatively, applying multimodal analgesia, and releasing the pursestring when indicated eliminated these complications. The surgical repair of rectal prolapses in mice is a minimally invasive procedure that resolves the clinical symptoms of affected animals and reduces the number of mice that are euthanized prematurely prior to the study endpoint.
Insights
Surgical repair of rectal prolapse in mice using a pursestring suture effectively resolves clinical symptoms. This minimally invasive procedure reduces premature euthanasia of valuable research animals.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Laboratory Animal Science
- Surgical Techniques
Background:
- Rectal prolapse is a common issue in laboratory mice, often leading to premature euthanasia.
- Current standard care involves monitoring, which can result in animal loss before study completion.
- Surgical correction is effective in larger species but not well-established in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a pursestring suture technique for surgical correction of rectal prolapse in mice.
- To establish a minimally invasive surgical procedure to improve animal welfare and reduce study attrition.
- To identify and mitigate potential complications associated with the surgical repair.
Main Methods:
- Mice with rectal prolapse were anesthetized with isoflurane.
- Prolapsed tissue was manually reduced and secured with a 4-0 polydioxanone pursestring suture.
- Postoperative care included single housing, multimodal analgesia, and suture management.
Main Results:
- The pursestring suture procedure was successfully performed in 12 mice.
- Complications such as self-trauma and fecal impaction were observed initially.
- Implementing single housing, analgesia, and timely suture release eliminated complications.
- The surgical repair resolved clinical symptoms and prevented premature euthanasia.
Conclusions:
- Surgical correction of rectal prolapse in mice using a pursestring suture is a feasible and effective treatment.
- This minimally invasive technique improves animal welfare and reduces premature euthanasia in research settings.
- Optimized postoperative care is crucial for successful outcomes and minimizing complications.
