AN ANIMAL-MODEL FOR SHORT-BOWEL SYNDROME IN PIGLETS TO ASSESS THE EFFICIENCY OF BOWEL-LENGTHENING PROCEDURES

Intestinal lengthening is considered to be one of the most effective s urgical interventions to improve the deleterious sequelae of short-bow el syndrome. To assess the efficiency of bowel-lengthening procedures in short-bowel syndrome, an animal model was created in minipigs that show malnutrition, weight loss and small-bowel dilatation. Group 1 con sisted of three animals with a 95% distal intestinal resection leaving 15 cm of ileum. Group 2 comprised six animals with a 95% distal intes tinal resection leaving only 5 cm of ileum, and group 3 consisted of t hree animals with a 95% distal intestinal resection leaving 5 cm of il eum and construction of a distal small-bowel stenosis by temporary ban ding. In group 1 there was a significant increase in length of residua l bowel at terminal laparotomy at 10 weeks and a significant differenc e for protein and potassium. No bowel dilatation occurred and no anima l lost weight. Group 2 animals showed a continuous loss of weight afte r the intestinal resection and significantly different values in anima l profile were found at 10 weeks but no significant difference in leng th or in diameter of the residual bowel. In group 3, all animals demon strated a significant dilatation of the residual small bowel at 1 week when the stenosis was resected and bowel continuity restored. We conc lude that in piglets a 95% distal intestinal resection leaving 5 cm of ileum leads to a short-bowel syndrome with malnutrition and weight lo ss, but no intestinal dilatation. To provoke an additional intestinal dilatation, creation of a distal stenosis is mandatory. Animals of gro up 3 represent a suitable model to assess the efficacy of short-bower lengthening procedures.