Laparoscopic cecal ligation and puncture in the rat

Background: We describe a technique of laparoscopic cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the rat analogous to open CLP which may facilitate the study of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and peritonitis. Methods: Forty-four rats were randomized to either laparoscopic or open CLP and their 3-day mortality was recorded. Autopsies were performed for peritoneal fluid cultures, measurement of the length of ligated cecum, and scoring of the degree of cecal necrosis. Results: Laparoscopic CLP required slightly longer operating times compared to open CLP (average 15.6 vs 13.1 min, p = 0.002). Three-day postoperative mortality was 36.4% and 22.7% for open and laparoscopic CLP, respectively ( p = NS). There were no differences in the length of ligated cecum or the cecal necrosis score between the open and laparoscopic CLP groups. Conclusion: Laparoscopic CLP is feasible and produces a fecal peritonitis with similar characteristics to those of traditional open CLP.