PURPOSE: To describe a model of laparoscopic vasectomy in rats. METHODS: 35 rats Rattus Norvegicus Albinus Wistar were used. The animals were anaesthetised and then the pneumoperitoneum was done with PCO2 of 7mmHg through a Veress needle. After that, a 11 mm trocar and two 5 mm trocars were inserted through the abdominal wall. The forceps used on dissections, cauterisation and section of the ductus deferens and its vessels and the 10mm diameter laparoscope were introduced through the trocars. RESULTS: In the course of surgery, two animals (5,74%) presented bleeding which was easily stopped in both cases. One animal died at the anaesthetic induction (2,85%) and another (2,85%) died of an unidentified cause on the fourth observation day. After an eight-day observation period, 33 rats were alive (94,28%). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical material is the same as that used in humans and all the basic procedures of laparoscopic surgery are applied, which makes it feasible in the training of students, residents and surgeons.
Laparoscopic surgery; Vasectomy; Rats
