An improved ileal cannula for adult cockerels

The design of a t-piece ileal cannula and collecting device suitable for long term implantation in adult cockerels, is described. An inner retaining plate sutured to the serosal surface of the ileum prevents expulsion of the cannula while an outer retaining plate prevents the cannula from moving into the abdominal cavity. The cannulae, which were machined from PVC rod, were implanted in 11 cockerels, 10 of which survived in good health for 12 months. Reasons for the failures with earlier designs of cannulae are discussed.