This article details the surgical approach to accessing the infrarenal abdominal aorta (IAA) in pigs. It describes the anatomical landmarks and techniques used to minimize blood loss and avoid vascular injury during the procedure.
In pigs, the abdominal aorta - the main artery in the abdominal cavity - transports oxygenated blood from the heart to organs in the abdominal cavity and lower extremities through its branches.
The abdominal aorta divides into the suprarenal and infrarenal abdominal aortas - SAA and IAA - above and below the renal arteries, respectively. The abdominal aorta trifurcates into two external iliac arteries and a common trunk of the internal iliac artery, further branching into two internal iliac arteries and a sacral median artery.
To access the IAA, prep an anesthetized pig in the supine position. Using an electrocautery probe with a low-voltage current, make a midline abdominal incision with minimal blood loss by coagulating tissue to expose the abdominal cavity. Keep the abdominal organs hydrated for optimal tissue function.
Displace the organs revealing the retroperitoneum, area behind the abdominal cavity, including the organs contributing to urinary and circulatory functions. Incise the tissue layer lining the abdominal cavity to access the retroperitoneum.
Locate the IAA, adjacent to inferior vena cava - a large vein carrying deoxygenated blood from the lower body and abdomen to the heart. Circumferentially dissect the IAA from the surrounding tissues, ranging from the renal blood vessels to the aortic trifurcation, avoiding vascular injury. The exposed IAA is ready for further studies.
Using electrocautery, perform a mid-line laparotomy to enter the abdominal cavity, taking care to stay to the right of the penis and its shaft to avoid injury. Tuck one side of a saline-soaked sterile blue towel into the left paracolic gutter, and then, use it to cover the bowel to avoid desiccation, before displacing the abdominal viscera to the pig's left, exposing the retroperitoneum.
While one operator retracts the sigmoid colon and rectum to the left, the other surgeon palpates for the aortic pulse to identify the appropriate site to incise the retroperitoneum. Tend to the retroperitoneum, and use electrocautery to incise and enter the retroperitoneum, facilitating access to the inferior vena cava and infrarenal abdominal aorta.
Circumferentially dissect approximately 3 centimeters of the aorta at the midpoint between the right renal artery and aortic trifurcation to allow for baseline measurement of the aorta, before full dissection causes aortic spasm. Take care to avoid injury to the right ureter. Once a short segment of the aorta has been exposed, use calipers to measure its diameter. After measurement, complete the circumferential dissection of the entire infrarenal aorta.
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