Protocol for surgical implantation of chronic cecal cannula in pigs v1

Gastroduodenal and ileal cannulas in pigs are commonly used to evaluate food digestibility and nutrition research. However accessing the motility of the proximal colon for long term in conscious pigs remains achallenge. In this protocol, we describe the surgical implantation of a cecal cannula in Yucatan minipigs,together with details to design/3D-print a biocompatible cecal cannula that allows direct access to the cecum/proximal colon of pigs and the maintenance procedure. The cannula is very well tolerated by the animals for long-term use. The model enables not only a reliable longitudinal chronic colon function measurements (probes inserted through the cannula) to study gut motility in health and diseases but also for luminal sensing and stimulation using stationary or non-stationary wireless smart pills.