Abstract: Objective To explore the feasibility of establishing the animal model of giant ventral hernia and intra-abdominal hypertension in New Zealand rabbits. Methods The muscular tissue and peritoneum was resected and the defect with diameter about 3 cm was constructed. The intra-abdominal pressure was increased with induction of constipation due to lack of water during perioperative period. The hernia establishment was monitored with measurement of the volume of hernia sac by ultrasound. Reoperation was performed to measure the intra-abdominal pressure. The hernia sac was dissected to confirm the presence of the hernia ring. The hernia repair surgery with biological mesh was performed, and the intra-abdominal pressure was measured again for the comparison. Results The abdominal reducible bulge beside the incision was formed during 3 to 18 days after operation. The average maximum diameter of the bulge was (8.73 ±1.00)cm. The average diameter of the hernia defect was about (2.58 ±0.52)cm. The intra-abdominal pressure increased significantly after the repair surgery[(13.93 ±1.61)cmH₂O (1 cmH₂O=0.098 kPa)vs (4.66 ±1.34)cmH₂O, P<0.01]. Conclusion It is simple and feasible to establish the animal model of giant ventral hernia and intra-abdominal hypertension in rabbits with the method explored above mentioned, which is a reliable animal model for the clinical study of giant ventral hernia.

Key words: abdominal hernia, animal model, intra-abdominal hypertension, experimental rabbits