PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of transgression of the bowel during intraperitoneal percutaneous catheter placement in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight 8-F straight catheters were percutaneously insertedinto the small and large bowel of eight rabbits. In four animals, the catheters were left in place until autopsy, whereas in the remaining four, the catheters were withdrawn five days after insertion. Autopsy was performed inall animals ten days after catheter placement, and gross and microscopic examination was carried out. RESULTS: Transgressing the bowel during intraperitoneal percutaneous catheter placement did not contribute to any clinically significant complications. At autopsy, there was no bowel leakage, peritonitis, or abscess, although peritoneal adhesions were found around the catheter tract. CONCLUSION: Although further study is warranted, ourstudy with an animal model indicated that transgression of the intestine during percutaneous placement of an intraabdominal catheter did not produce significant complications.