Sleeve Gastrectomy in Mice Using Disposable Ligature Clips

Current mouse models of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) rely heavily on manual suturing -- a technically demanding procedure with prolonged operative times, high perioperative mortality, and a steep learning curve. This limits their accessibility to non-surgical researchers. To address this bottleneck, we developed a simplified SG protocol using disposable ligature clips, commonly employed in clinical gastrointestinal surgery. In diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice, the clip-based approach reduced mean operative time by >50% (20.9 ± 3.2 vs. 43.9 ± 3.0 min) and significantly improved 12-week survival compared to traditional suturing. The method achieved equivalent metabolic outcomes, including sustained weight loss, improved glucose tolerance, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and reduced hepatic steatosis. Notably, the model requires no specialized microsurgical expertise or stapling devices, which are often unavailable for murine applications. We recommend this clip-based method for investigators, particularly those without advanced surgical training, who prioritize procedural efficiency and reproducibility in mechanistic studies of bariatric surgery. For surgeons seeking direct clinical translatability, suture-based techniques remain preferable, albeit with more stringent perioperative management.