LOBECTOMÍA EN RATAS. MODELO QUIRÚRGICO EXPERIMENTAL. RESULTADOS EN LA DENSIDAD ALVEOLAR.

Background: Surgical lung resection is required for multiple pulmonary diseases. After these procedures, the lung experiences a compensatory growth, which can be studied in animal models such as rats. Aim: To develop a surgical model of lung lobectomy in rats. Material and Methods: Forty seven rats of the strain Rattus norvegicus were used. Animals were anesthetized with atropine, ketamine and xylacine. The airway was managed with a facial mask to avoid intubation. An anesthetic evaluation protocol was followed and animals were oxygenated using a cephalic veil. Forty rats were subjected to a right lobectomy and seven animals were sham operated. Rats subjected to lobectomy were sacrificed at one, two, three and four weeks after operation. Results: All operated rats survived. There were significant differences in the number of alveolar intersections among rats subjected to lobectomy and sacrificed at three weeks compared to sham operated animals, with a lower number of alveoli among the former. Conclusions: We were able to develop the model of lobectomy, however we failed to demonstrate a compensatory growth among rats subjected to lobectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]