Experimental research and surgery: Why, how, and when?

Experimental research faces two great problems: the significant reduction o f public funding and the firm opposition of the public opinion. The law for bids the use of large animals, so that it is possible to use small animals only, which require microsurgical techniques. However, even a skillful surg eon does not know how to perform microsurgery and has to begin a long and t iring training to master techniques. We think that experimental surgery sho uld play a role because it tests the validity and safety of new surgical te chniques and allows special pathophysiological aspects to be studied. Furth ermore experimental surgery could represent an essential stage in the train ing of young surgeons. We should find a balance between observance of the l aw and respect of the animals and, on the other hand, the role of experimen tal surgery because we should not forget that its most important aim is the improvement of the health of the humankind. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.