Simple rat model for esophagogastric anastomosis wound healing after esophageal transection: surgical technique and postoperative care

Use of experimental animal models is crucial for advancing our understanding of pathophysiological aspects and nature of diseases. Esophageal resection is only curative treatment for esophageal cancer. Disruption of esophagogastric anastomosis results in high morbidity and mortality. Presence of simple reproducible rat model is essential for better understanding of anastomosis healing and further investigations. Here a novel easily reusable technique of esophagogastric anastomosis formation using rat model is presented. Hand sewn end-to-end esophagogastric anastomoses were performed in rat model after esophageal dissection. 4 mm silicone catheter was inserted from gastrotomy to distal esophagus and anastomoses were sewn with continuous nonabsorbable suture. Standardized anastomoses were carried out in 10 male Sprague Dawley rats and physiological healing was observed by histological analysis 5 days after procedure. Normal anastomotic healing was found in 9 rats. Failure of the esophagogastric anastomosis caused by anastomosis insufficiency and leakage was observed in 1 animal. One animal died on third postoperative day on septic complications. Histologically, the healing of an anastomosis in physiological conditions was observed. This study presents a simple reproducible rodent model for esophagogastric anastomosis healing, so the gap between basic research and clinical applications could be bridged.