Laparoscopy for Gastrointestinal Perforation in Neonates: A New Animal Model for Training

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Neonatal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Neonatal gastrointestinal (GI) perforation presents diagnostic and surgical challenges.
• Laparoscopy offers potential for timely diagnosis and refined surgical indications.
• A standardized animal model for laparoscopic training in neonatal GI perforation is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a small-animal model for neonatal GI perforation.
• To evaluate laparoscopy's effectiveness in identifying GI perforations.
• To assess intracorporeal suturing feasibility in a confined space.

Main Methods:

• 30 Sprague Dawley rats underwent laparoscopy.
• Part I: Random GI perforation creation and laparoscopic identification.
• Part II: Laparoscopic identification and intracorporeal suturing of perforations.

Main Results:

• 29 of 30 rats developed GI perforations across various segments.
• Laparoscopy successfully identified all 29 perforations.
• Suturing was completed in an average of 53 minutes, with minor leaks or strictures in 4 cases.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopy is a sensitive and technically feasible tool for detecting neonatal GI perforations in a rat model.
• This model is valuable for training laparoscopic skills in confined surgical environments.
• Further research is needed to explore skill acquisition and learning curves.