Pilot study of the porcine uterine horn as an in vivo appendicitis model for development of endoscopic transgastric appendectomy

BackgroundIatrogenic inflammation of the porcine uterine horn may serve as an in vivo appendicitis model for the development of endoscopic transgastric appendectomy.ObjectiveFive female pigs.Study DesignAnimal study.SettingsGeneral anesthesia.Main Outcome MeasurementsAnatomical appearance and technical feasibility.InterventionsThree pigs were used to identify an injectable material that would inflame the uterine horn, and 2 pigs were used for a pilot appendectomy. Three types of materials were individually injected into the bilateral uterine horns, and the ideal material to inflame the uterine horn was injected into the right uterine horn for the last 2 pigs. After 24 hours, the injected uterine horns of the first 3 pigs were assessed and a pilot appendectomy was performed in the last 2 pigs.ResultsEthanolamine oleate (EO) injected uterine horns demonstrated similarities to the inflamed human appendix. Simulations of the appendectomy were successfully performed by using the EO model.LimitationsSuboptimal existing tools.ConclusionsThis preliminary study demonstrated the technical feasibility to create a model for acute appendicitis by using the porcine uterine horn and transgastric appendectomy.