Chronic fistulation and cannulation of the rabbit caecum

A PTFE cannula was introduced into the rabbit abdomen through the right flank. A purse string suture was used to fix a small plastic flange within the caecum. A larger flange was sutured under the skin to fix the cannula. Caecal contents could be collected from the chronic fistula via a threaded stainless steel cap on the cannula. Animals tolerated the fistulation well and sepsis was never seen.