Laparoscopic Gastric Banding in the Rat Model as a Means of Videolaparoscopic Training

Abstract

The development of laparoscopy in bariatric surgery has attracted a large number of surgeons. Learning this method for future clinical practice requires intensive training with inert tissues, simulators and experimental surgery in animals. Performing these procedures in small animals, with the same equipment used in humans, is feasible, allowing familiarization with and comprehension of the basic techniques. Wistar rats weighing 300-600 g were used. The animals were kept in standard laboratory conditions. A laparoscopic video-system, Veress needle, three ports, a 0 degree optic, a laparoscopic needle-holder, two 5-mm graspers, a 5-mm dissection clamp and a 5-mm scissors were used. An orogastric catheter with three 4-0 nylon sutures and one 6-0 nylon suture were also utilized. For the gastric band, we used a plastic device similar to the human gastric band. The present study describes a simple, inexpensive and reproducible technique for laparoscopic gastric banding in a rat model utilizing the same instruments developed for humans. The experimental rat model is more motivating than simulators, requires less space, and has easier maintenance compared with bigger animals, and consequently allows the use of more animals for teaching, training and application in many scientific studies.

An Obese Rat Model of Bariatric Surgery with Gastric Banding

“…23 Although considerable basic research on RYGBP using animal models has been conducted, 16,[24][25][26] animal models of gastric banding are very limited. 11,19 Bozbora et al 12 estimated the materials of gastric banding for gastric and esophageal mucosa of Wistar rats. De Monteiro et al 11 established an animal model of gastric banding using Wistar rats, and showed a decrease in both cumulative weight gain and food intake.…”

“…De Monteiro et al 11 established an animal model of gastric banding using Wistar rats, and showed a decrease in both cumulative weight gain and food intake. Additionally, de Menze Ettinger et al 19 performed laparoscopic gastric banding in Wistar rats as a means of video-laparoscopic training. Reports on gastric banding rat models are increasing, but to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on improvements in metabolic parameters or on the detailed procedures of the gastric banding.…”

“…17,18 Because of these differences, it is very difficult to perform a gastric banding operation equivalent to that in humans. In order to establish a rat model of gastric banding which approximates the human procedure, unlike in previous models, 11,19 we developed a new model of gastric banding, as described below.…”

“…In a different rat model recently published, a similar band was used. 19 To prevent band slippage, the separated stomach was fixed just above the band with 5-0 PDS ® (Ethicon) (Figure 1-B). The length of the tied band was 18 mm in order to standardize the degree of gastric restriction.…”

Vagotomy Suppresses Body Weight Gain in a Rat Model of Gastric Banding

“…Several rat models of gastric banding have recently been reported [10,12,13,14,15], and their food intake and body weight gain has been found to be less than that of sham-operated rats [12,13]. Complete inhibition of weight gain was not observed in any of the models [16], and even in obese Zucker rats gastric banding was found to result in a decrease in weight gain and food intake rather than in absolute weight [15].…”