A rabbit model of perforated appendicitis with peritonitis.

No satisfactory animal model simulating acute perforating appendicitis followed by peritonitis in man has hitherto been achieved. A technique has been developed in New Zealand White rabbits to fulfil these desiderata. The bacterial flora associated with the ensuing peritonitis is similar to that found in man both as regards aerobes and anaerobes and their concentrations. The method effectively produces the required model in 70 per cent of rabbits subjected to the experiment. Satisfactory postoperative survival is achieved enabling therapeutic studies.