Establishment of a Rabbit Model of Giant Abdominal Wall Hernia

PURPOSE: Animal models play an important role in abdominal wall hernia research. However, there is still no standard animal models for abdominal wall hernia. This study aimed to introduce a novel rabbit model of giant abdominal wall hernia. METHODS: Sixteen 1-year-old New Zealand rabbits weighing 3 to 5 kg were used. After general anesthesia, a 5-cm longitudinal incision was made 2 cm lateral to the ventral midline, and a full-thickness laparotomy incision was made en bloc including the peritoneum (except skin). A full-thickness defect of the abdominal wall with a diameter of 3 cm was created. To increase the intraabdominal pressure, constipation was induced by deprivation of water perioperatively. The development of giant abdominal wall hernia was recorded. The bulge area of these rabbits was redissected to assess the hernia 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Of the 16 rabbits, 13 (81.25%) rabbits had grade I healing and 3 (18.75%) rabbits had grade III healing. Reversible abdominal bulge at the incisional site was observed in all rabbits 3 to 18 days postoperatively. The average maximum diameter of the bulge was 8.73 ± 1.00 cm. Redissection of the bulge area showed successful establishment of giant abdominal wall hernia. CONCLUSION: We successfully established a rabbit model of giant abdominal wall hernia, which may provide an easy-to-use tool for the research of abdominal wall hernia.