Tracheoesophageal anastomosis, continent gastrostomy and oesophagostomy--a new experimental model in minipiglets

• Published in: Laboratory animals (London) Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 411 - 419
• Main Authors: Schaarschmidt, K, Paschertz, K.W, Stratmann, U, Ruprecht, L, Willital, G.H, Unsold, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.1995
• Subjects: abnormal development; anastomosis; Anastomosis, Surgical - veterinary; animal models; Animals; Animals, Laboratory - surgery; Body Weight; Diet; disease models; Disease Models, Animal; enteral feeding; Enteral Nutrition; esophageal atresia; Esophageal Atresia - pathology; Esophagostomy - veterinary; esophagus; Esophagus - surgery; experimental surgery; fistula; Gastrostomy - veterinary; laboratory mammals; Male; miniature swine; piglets; restricted feeding; surgery; Swine; Swine, Miniature - surgery; trachea (vertebrates); Trachea - surgery; tracheoesophageal fistula; Tracheoesophageal Fistula - surgery; TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA; OESOPHAGOSTOMY; MINIPIG; ISOFLURANE ANAESTHESIA; OESOPHAGUS; CONTINENT GASTROSTOMY; ALIMENTARY ABSTINENCE
• ISSN: 0023-6772; 1758-1117
• DOI: 10.1258/002367795780740131

Tracheoesophageal fistulae endanger newborn children by aspiration pneumonia. An animal model of this dangerous malformation was thought to be impossible until now. By tracheoesophageal anastomosis, occlusion of the oesophagogastral junction, proximal cervical oesophagostomy and continent gastrostomy in 25 minipiglets a reliable model of tracheaesophageal fistula has been developed. After establishing the model in a pilot study the mortality following the establishment of this procedure was 5.6% and the minipiglets survived in excellent condition for 2-10 week periods under complete alimentary restriction and gastrostomy feeding. Therefore the method seems to be suitable for long-term investigations on major oesophagotracheal surgery.