Sacrococcygeal and transsacral epidural anesthesia in the laboratory pig: a model for experimental surgery

The laboratory piglet is currently the preferred animal for experimental digestive surgery. In order to ensure optimal perioperative analgesic control with motor blockade during surgery together with rapid postoperative recovery, epidural anesthesia techniques were developed in this animal. We report the anatomo-radiologic studies (10 animals) and clinical experiments (51 transplantations of the liver and the small intestine) which led to the refinement of this anesthesia. In laboratory piglets, epidural anesthesia by distal transsacral (S4-S5) or sacrococcygeal approach is possible in a reproducible manner. The localization of the injection site is simple and epidural space catheterisation is easy without risk for the dural sac which ends at S1-S2.