Pig Models in Translational Surgery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Translational Surgery
• Comparative Anatomy

Background:

• Rodent models are limited for human surgical translation due to size constraints.
• Pigs offer significant translational value in surgical research owing to anatomical and physiological similarities with humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse applications and future potential of the pig model in various surgical research fields.
• To highlight the pig's role in advancing cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, osteoarticular, and neurosurgery.
• To discuss the implications of pig-to-human xenotransplantation and ethical considerations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies utilizing the pig model in surgical research.
• Analysis of pig model contributions across different surgical specialties.
• Examination of current and future trends, including xenotransplantation and robotic surgery.

Main Results:

• Pigs have been instrumental in developing stents, improving bypass grafting, and advancing heart valve xenotransplantation.
• The pig model aids in mesh development for abdominal repair, liver regeneration studies, and metabolic surgery research.
• Increasing use in osteoarticular and neurosurgery, and crucial for testing surgical equipment, minimally invasive techniques, and robotic surgery training.

Conclusions:

• The pig model has significantly contributed to surgical research advancements, particularly in xenotransplantation.
• Future research will focus on refining pig models for enhanced preclinical reliability and addressing ethical concerns.
• Pig-to-human xenotransplantation shows promise but requires further research for long-term safety and efficacy.