Feeding management before gastrointestinal studies in pigs. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gregson, Rachael; Greenhalgh, Stephen; Cox, Benjamin; Cochrane, Sandy; Clutton, R Eddie
• Is Part Of: Laboratory animals. Volume 55:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 180
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Pigs -- anaesthesia -- food withdrawal -- refinement -- gastrointestinal tract -- capsule endoscopy -- colorectal surgery; Animal experimentation -- Periodicals; Animal models in research -- Periodicals; Laboratory animals -- Periodicals; Animal welfare -- Periodicals; 636.0885
• DOI: 10.1177/0023677220960509
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-6772

Abstract

Pigs are used to model humans in gastrointestinal (GI) studies because of their comparable size, physiology and behaviour: both are monogastric omnivores. A porcine surgical model for testing novel, tethered ultrasound capsule endoscopes (USCE) requires a clean, motile small intestine. Recommendations for human GI tract preparation before the mechanically similar process of video capsule endoscopy describe using oral purgatives, while high-carbohydrate drinks are recommended before colorectal surgery. Reports of the GI preparation of pigs exist but lack technical details, that is, administration, efficacy and side effects. This report details feeding a high-energy liquid diet to 11 female pigs undergoing surgery and USCE which was readily accepted and easily administered, and which produced a clean, motile small intestine and caused no detectable physiological/behavioural abnormalities.