Abstract
The introduction of technical surgical innovations in clinical medicine is preceded by preclinical evaluation of prototypes. Surgical aspects such as energy dependent tissue response and tissue sealing to reduce bleeding are usually investigated in animal experiments. Extra-corporal organ models can provide the required experimental information without harming animals and thus reduce or even replace in vivo experiments. Here we describe the ex vivo ox-foot-model, which can be used for surgical investigations and for training purposes. In the ox-foot-model the vein remains in its anatomical bed under reproducible experimental conditions, i.e., blood perfusion, blood pressure, and temperature. Innovative endoluminal surgical procedures using laser light and radio frequency for varicosis treatment were tested. Treatment parameters were investigated systematically in a large number of samples. A standardized preclinical testing procedure could be established and optimized on the basis of acute macroscopic and histological findings. Further, optical coherence tomography could be evaluated as a time-saving diagnostic tool. The ox-foot-model is suitable for training surgical techniques relevant for the treatment of varicosis veins. It is a cost-effective alternative to conventional in vivo experiments, providing standardized experimental conditions and reproducible experimental results while respecting the Principles of Humane Experimental Techniques: Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement of animal experiments.
Highlights
Despite great efforts and progress in the treatment of insufficient varicosis veins, nearly every second adult is afflicted with varicosis, and about 10-15% show clinical effects
Altex 29, 4/12 labor at the Hospital of the University of Munich (Schmedt et al 2006, 2007). It was developed for the assessment of techniques of endoluminal energy application, e.g., radio frequency and laser light, both suitable for thermal destruction of the vessel structures, offering an innovative procedure to treat patients suffering from varicosis veins and the resulting acute tissue responses
The 3-way plug valve is first connected to a 50 ml syringe filled with rinsing solution, dependent on the experimental conditions, which is passed through the vein; thereafter the syringe can be exchanged for the infusion system
Summary
Despite great efforts and progress in the treatment of insufficient varicosis veins, nearly every second adult is afflicted with varicosis, and about 10-15% show clinical effects. Organ models have the potential to reduce animal experiments in the investigation of innovative pharmaceutical treatment modalities and in surgical interventions examining acute tissue effects. They do not require the same lengthy approval process as animal experiments, do not pose ethical concerns, and are cheaper to perform. Altex 29, 4/12 labor at the Hospital of the University of Munich (Schmedt et al 2006, 2007) It was developed for the assessment of techniques of endoluminal energy application, e.g., radio frequency and laser light, both suitable for thermal destruction of the vessel structures, offering an innovative procedure to treat patients suffering from varicosis veins and the resulting acute tissue responses
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