TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL ANASTOMOSIS, CONTINENT GASTROSTOMY AND OESOPHAGOSTOMY - A NEW EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL IN MINIPIGLETS

Tracheoesophageal fistulae endanger newborn children by aspiration pne umonia. An animal model of this dangerous malformation was thought to be impossible until now. By tracheoesophageal anastomosis, occlusion o f the oesophagogastral junction, proximal cervical oesophagostomy and continent gastrostomy in 25 minipiglets a reliable model of tracheoeso phageal fistula has been developed. After establishing the model in a pilot study the mortality following the establishment of this procedur e was 5.6% and the minipiglets survived in excellent condition for 2-1 0 week periods under complete alimentary restriction and gastrostomy f eeding. Therefore the method seems to be suitable for long-term invest igations on major oesophagotracheal surgery.