Surgical procedure
Transluminal access
Site access & prep: Endoscope inserted through mouth into stomach. No site prep reported.
Incision site: Anterior mid-antrum (8 pigs) or within 2cm of CEJ, anteriorly (4 pigs). Site checked using
transillumination & finger indentation.
Incision method: Brief pulse of diathermy on a needle-knife until guidewire passed into peritoneal cavity without
resistance. Needle-knife catheter pushed through stomach wall & exchanged over guidewire for sphincterotome &
incision made to desired length of anastomosis.
Intervention
Specific loop of SI selected using clues provided by transillumination & anatomic position relative to other structures.
Grasping forceps & snare passed through endoscope channels. Forceps passed through open snare, which was
closed loosely on forceps. Forceps opened & used to grasp & tent SI on ante-mesenteric side. Snare opened &
closed to hold SI, taking care not to include mesenteric vascular supply. SI pulled through incision into stomach until
sufficient SI (~2cm) available for intragastric anastomosis. Snare holding SI clamped & handle cut off so endoscope
could be withdrawn from snare & passed into stomach (allowed greater freedom of movement for suturing). Echotip
needle advanced through scope & placed through tissue under vision. By advancing stylet, tag & thread released
from needle & left in place (most effective to place 1 stitch through SI & next into stomach, & then to tie this pair of
threads together). 6-8 stitch pairs placed to secure anastomosis. SI incised with a needle-knife to open anastomosis.
Retraction & viscerotomy closure
NA (incision part of anastomosis).
Procedural Success/Complications
Incision: Good - no bleeding
Visualisation: Loop of SI: selected using clues provided by transillumination & anatomic position related to other
structures.
Manoeuvrability: Snare holding SI clamped & handle cut off so endoscope could be withdrawn from snare & passed
into stomach allowed greater freedom of movement for suturing.
Intervention: Anastomosis completed in12/12 animals. At endoscopy (POD7) it was possible to pass gastroscope
through anastomosis into afferent and efferent limbs & SI securely attached to stomach. At Necrospy (POD7) SI loop
of anastomoses reached stomach without tension or rotation. No leakage observed on necropsy.
Retraction & viscerotomy closure: NA
Operative Time: Enter peritoneal cavity from stomach, grasp SI & pull it into peritoneal cavity