Establishment of an Experimental System for Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in a Rat Model

Abstract

Aim: To establish an experimental system for comparing different methods of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in a rat model.

Materials and methods: We used six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and created an early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) system using 18-gauge syringes and evacuators, and a hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) system using two peristaltic pumps which controlled the flow rate and temperature. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) was achieved using a nozzle for dispersing aerosols at a flow rate up to 41.5 ml/min. The distribution and intensity of 0.2% trypan blue dye was compared among three methods.

Results: The distribution was limited and the intensity was weak after EPIC, and the dye stained moderately in gravity-dependent regions after HIPEC. On the other hand, the distribution was the most comprehensive, and the intensity was the greatest after PIPAC.

Conclusion: This experimental system in a rat model may reflect the comparative effect among EPIC, HIPEC and PIPAC in humans.

Keywords: Experimental system; intraperitoneal chemotherapy; rat.