Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 43 No. 1, 2004.
Case report
Relative Bowel Rest and Healing of Colonic Anastomoses
Žarko Rašić
Branko Bakula
Ivan Zoričić
Višnja Nesek-Adam
Miljenko Bevanda
Davorin Kozomara
Zrinko Brekalo
Dragan Schwarz
Abstract
The effect of relative bowel rest on the strength of surgical anastomoses in the left colon in the early phase of healing, and correlation between mechanical strength of anastomosis and collagen content in the colonic wall were investigated. The breaking strength of surgical stitches in the left colon after end-to-end anastomosis and collagen content in the colonic wall around the anastomosis were measured and evaluated in rats fed low residue or standard diet. The anastomosis strength decreased by approximately 30% of the immediate postoperative value in the first two days in both groups. After day 2, there was an increase in the anastomosis strength, reaching day 0 strength after 7 days. The strength increase was mainly due to collagen deposition in the anastomosis. From day 0 till day 2, the increase in collagen content was greater in the standard laboratory diet group than in the low residue diet group. Results on anastomotic adhesions and condition of anastomosis sutures in animals on the standard laboratory diet group and low residue diet group are also presented. Low residue diet did not impair the suture holding capacity or anastomosis strength. Instead, there was evidence for a more uncomplicated healing when the bowel content was diminished.
Keywords
Colon-surgery; Gastrointestinal motility; Wound healing
Hrčak ID:
14444
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2004.
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