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BackgroundThe increasing complexity of advanced endoscopic techniques places a high demand on the endoscopist’s expertise. Thus, live porcine models have been more frequently used for training. We briefly describe a hands-on postgraduate endoscopic course regarding a novel method of treatment of anastomotic strictures in a porcine model.MethodsThe porcine model of Crohn’s disease anastomotic stricture with two artificial side-to-side ileo-colonic anastomoses was used. Participants performed endoscopic stricturotomy under supervision at one of two equipped endoscopic stations. Available animals were endoscopically re-examined 3 months after the course.ResultsTwelve anastomoses were prepared for the course. Eleven circumferential stricturotomies together with horizontal cut and clip placement were conducted. All anastomoses were passable for the scope after the procedure, and no case of perforation or bleeding occurred. All anastomoses available for re-examination remained passable for the endoscope after 3 months.ConclusionWe successfully organised the first endoscopic hands-on course for the training of endoscopic stricturotomy on a large animal model.

Background Novel, less invasive approaches such as single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy or natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery require preclinical evaluation and training. Therefore, there is a need for an experimental model closely mimicking the clinical situation. The aim of our study was to create an experimental model of calculous cholecystitis in a large laboratory animal and test its feasibility for the evaluation of different techniques of cholecystectomy. Methods In 11 laboratory pigs, gallstones were placed inside the gallbladder laparoscopically. Levels of inflammatory markers—leucocytes (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6)—were monitored on the postoperative days (POD) 1, 2, 3, 7 and 30. Abdominal ultrasound was performed 2 and 4 weeks after the operation. Four weeks after the lithiasis induction, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. The control group consisted of ten healthy animals in which a cholecystectomy was performed. The pigs were monitored for 30 days after surgery. All removed gallbladders were assessed histologically. Results The induction of lithiasis took 42 (35–52) min with no morbidity and mortality. The values of WBC, CRP and IL-6 increased significantly (vs. baseline) on POD 1, 2 and 3 ( p  < 0.05) and then normalised. Ultrasonography confirmed the presence of chronic calculous cholecystitis in all cases after 4 weeks. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was significantly longer in animals with lithiasis, 63 (42–91) versus 46 (31–62) min ( p  = 0.018). Perioperative gallbladder wall perforation was significantly more frequent in the model group (8/11 vs. 1/10; p  = 0.04). In contrast to healthy animals, all gallbladders with stones showed histological signs of chronic inflammation. Conclusions A new animal model of calculous cholecystitis was created. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was more technically difficult compared to operating on a healthy gallbladder. This model may be a suitable tool for effective preclinical training and also for the evaluation of different techniques of cholecystectomy.