Postoperative ileus-Establishing a porcine model.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus (POI), characterized by absent gastrointestinal motility, is a frequent complication following major abdominal surgery, with no current effective treatment possibilities. For further research in the treatment of this condition, we aimed to establish a porcine model of POI. METHODS: A total of 12 Landrace pigs, weighing 60 kg, were included. Five animals were used as pilots to establish the surgical procedure, five animals received the same reproducible surgical procedure developed in the pilot experiments, while two animals were used as control. The primary endpoint was number of days to first stool. Intestinal motility was monitored using the SmartPill system. KEY RESULTS: Four of the five pigs who underwent the final surgical procedure passed first stool on the third postoperative day (POD), and one passed first stool on the fifth POD. SmartPill data showed retention of the capsule in the stomach in four of five pigs with usable traces. CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES An experimental porcine model of POI was established, forming the basis for future studies in POI.