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Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Use of a Rat Model to Study Ventral Abdominal Hernia Repair
Published on: October 2, 2017
Comparison of ıncisional hernia models ın rats: an experimental study
M Sahin1,2, M Saydam3, K B Yilmaz4
1Department of General Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drmutlu@gmail.com.
Purpose:
Incisional hernia repair is a frequently performed operation worldwide. In this experimental study, our aim is to present the incisional hernia model after creating midline laparotomy and several type of defects on abdominal wall of the rats. Thereby, the method determined here may be used in future experimental incisional hernia repair studies.
Methods:
After approval, 32 male rats were randomly seperated into 4 groups of 8 animals each, and were operated to form an incisional hernia; Sham group, 5 cm incision group, 5 cm incision plus capitonnage group, and 5 cm incision plus 2 × 4 cm muscle excision group, respectively. On the 28th postoperative day after killing, the abdominal anterior wall of rats were removed for histopathological and biomechanic examination.
Results:
The incisional hernia size was found to be statistically different in at least one group (p = 0.001). The incisional hernia size in Group 4 was found to be significantly higher than Group 2 (p = 0.001). When the tension and elongation values were examined, there was a difference in at least one group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.029, respectively). Histopathological examination shows that the degree of inflammation and fibrosis varies significantly (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively).
Conclusion:
This study has lead us to believe that the rat model created by applying muscle excision from the midline of the abdomen is the ideal incisional hernia model that can be used in future experimental incisional hernia studies.
