Establishment and efficacy observation of a surgical model for controlling abdominal explosive wound in pigs

Abstract

Objective To design and prepare a platform for the explosion injury of large animals, and to establish a controllable surgical model for controlling the explosive injury in pigs in order to observe the effect of damage control operation. Methods Firstly, based on the needs of this study, a platform for explosive injury of large animals was designed and produced, including injury site and injury protection device. A total of 30 pigs were randomly divided into groups A, B and C, and then fixed in the self-made device, with the distance from the abdominal wall to the explosion source 1.6, 1.2 and 0.8 m respectively. The explosive fragments of explosive weapons were simulated with high-speed steel balls, and the abdominal explosive injury model was established. The changes of physiological indexes before and after injury were detected and recorded. The injury condition of pigs was explored and the corresponding damage control operations were completed. The damage control was observed after operation and observed for 6 h. The survival rate of pigs at different time points was recorded. Pig abdominal injuries and the efficacy of damage control operation were observed and statistically analyzed. Results A protective device for explosive injury of large animals was designed and manufactured. All the physiological indexes of each pig were abnormal after explosion injury, with statistical difference when compared with those before explosion (P < 0.05). The blood pressure was decreased, heart rate was slowed down, and the platelet and hemoglobin levels and other indicators were also obviously reduced, with symptoms of shock at different severities. At the same explosive equivalence, the survival rates of group A and group B were 100%. One pig in group A died of excessive anesthesia, and no animals died during the operation. One pig in group B died of massive bleeding during operation. In group C, 2 pigs died immediately after the explosion, 2 pigs died during the operation, and 1 died within 30 min after operation, with an overall mortality rate of 50%. In group A, the injuries were generally mild, with 30% pigs having 3 or less wounds in 2 or less sites, including the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. For the pigs from group B, 90% of them had 4 or more wounds in above 3 sites. The conditions in group C were more severe, and 40% pigs had more than 8 wounds in 4 or over sites. Statistically difference was seen in the severity of injuries among the 3 groups (P=0.011). Finally, there were 27 pigs successfully resuscitated at early period, and undergoing damage control surgery. Except for 1 pig died of multiple organ failure due to infection, the other survived within 6 h of observation. Conclusion Under the given distance and explosive equivalent, a repeatable and stable model for abdominal explosive injury control operation is established by our self-designed large animal explosive injury platform. It is suitable for experimental research or simulated operation training. The model has good effect on damage control operation and can be popularized and applied.

Keywords

• explosion injury
• device
• pigs
• surgical model
• damage control operation
• efficacy