Anesthesia and Instrumentation for Porcine Model

Anesthesia and instrumentation protocols were similar to those previously described (Jarkovska et al., 2016 (link)). Anesthesia was induced with intramuscular (IM) tiletamine (2.2 mg/kg), zolazepam (2.2 mg/kg), and xylazine (2.2 mg/kg), together with intravenous (IV) propofol 2% (1–2 mg/kg) and maintained with continuous IV propofol (1–4 mg/kg/h) and fentanyl (5–10 μg/kg/h). Animals were mechanically ventilated (FiO₂ 0.3, PEEP 8 cm H₂O, tidal volume 10 ml/kg, respiratory rate adjusted to maintain end/tidal pCO₂ between 4 and 5 kPa), and muscle paralysis was achieved with IV rocuronium (4 mg for induction, 0.2–0.4 mg/kg/h for maintenance). Ringerfundin solution (B. Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany) was infused as maintenance fluid (7 ml/kg/h) and normoglycemia (arterial blood glucose level 4.5–7 mmol/L) was maintained using 10% glucose infusion (1–4 ml/kg/h).
All pigs were instrumented with a femoral artery catheter, triple lumen central venous catheter, and pulmonary artery catheter. Silicone drains directed into the anatomical spaces of Morison and Douglas were used for fecal inoculation.