Animal Model of Video-Assisted Cecum and Ileum Instrumentation for Equine Visceral Pain Study.
Authors: Monteiro Francisco Décio de Oliveira, Borges Luisa Pucci Bueno, Cardoso Thiago da Silva, Teixeira Pedro Paulo Maia, Filho Darcio Zangirolami, Sartori Vitor Cibiac, Pereira Rodrigo Norberto, Flores Fabíola Niederauer, Coelho Cássia Maria Molinaro, Silva Marco Augusto Machado, Valadão Carlos Augusto Araújo
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Video-Assisted Visceral Pain Model in Horses Researchers from Brazil have developed a minimally invasive technique to study visceral pain in horses by instrumenting the caecum and ileum via endoscopic guidance, addressing a significant gap in equine pain research where previous models have relied on more invasive surgical approaches. Working from horses with existing typhlostomies, the team created a custom distention device by adapting an endotracheal tube with an inflatable cuff coupled to a pressure-measuring cuffometer, allowing controlled and measurable stimulation of the intestinal wall whilst monitoring physiological responses and behavioural signs of discomfort. The procedure proved straightforward to perform in most cases, with slow progressive insufflation enabling researchers to titrate pain stimulus intensity against individual animal responses, and importantly, the model demonstrated low complication rates with reliable reproducibility across repeated applications. For equine professionals involved in colic management, pain assessment and analgesic research, this validated model offers a reproducible tool to evaluate pain pathways and therapeutic interventions at the visceral level—particularly valuable for understanding post-operative discomfort and refining pain management protocols in cases of large colon pathology. The video-assisted approach and ability to adjust stimulus intensity subjectively based on behavioural response also provides a more ethically considered framework for visceral pain studies compared to fixed-pressure models.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This model provides a feasible research tool for testing analgesic interventions in horses with visceral pain, potentially improving pain management strategies in clinical practice
- •The technique's minimally invasive nature and video-assisted approach reduces procedural trauma compared to traditional surgical methods for studying intestinal pain responses
- •Understanding how horses manifest visceral pain through this controlled model could help practitioners better recognize and treat colic and other abdominal pain conditions
Key Findings
- •A minimally invasive video-assisted model using a modified endotracheal tube with an inflatable cuff successfully instrumented the cecum and ileum for visceral pain assessment
- •Slow and progressive cuff insufflation allowed subjective adjustment of pain stimulus intensity based on behavioral manifestations
- •The procedure was easily performed in most cases with low complication rates and demonstrated reproducibility for evaluating analgesic effects