Laparoscopic Pancreatectomy in Rats: The Development of an Experimental Model

Introduction several pancreatectomy techniques in rats have been described and utilized for research concerning the pancreas endocrine and exocrine functions. However, we did not find a description of any kind of laparoscopic pancreatectomy in rats in the consulted databases. The objective of this study is to describe a laparoscopic splenic lobe pancreatectomy in rats. Methods ten Wistars rats weighting more then 300 g were operated for standardizing the laparoscopic pancreatosplenectomy technique, aided by previous descriptions of laparoscopic splenectomy and open pancreatectomy in rats. Adjustments have been progressively adopted for technical refinement. Results In five animals a low-cost rat laparoscopic set was used. In other five animals we used a standard laparoscopic set. Three rats died early due to different causes: transection of the gastroesophageal junction, hemorrhagic shock and inadvertent colonic injury. The postoperative period of the other seven rats was uneventful until the seventh postoperative day. Discussion laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in rats is feasible and safe, even with a low-cost set, in which the results were alike the standard laparoscopic set.