Surgical techniques for quantitative nutrient digestion and absorption studies in the pig

Surgical techniques allow quantitative measurement of nutrient digestion and absorption in pigs. The present paper presents our updated techniques for anaesthesia and surgery. The surgery technique of catheterization of the portal vein, mesenteric vein and mesenteric artery, as well as the fitting of a flow probe for continuous portal blood flow measurements in sows is described. Further, the cannulation of the terminal ileum with a dirigible bi-directional T-cannula for the total collection of ileal digesta is described. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.