Effect of Vitamin C Supplementation on Colonic Anastomotic Healing in the Presence of Peritonitis- An Experimental Study in Rats.

ascorbic acid plays a critical role in wound repair and healing/regeneration process as it stimulates collagen synthesis. Its effect on jejunal and colonic anastomosis is already established. We assessed its role on colonic anastomosis healing in presence of peritonitis and without peritonitis. Assessment was done by recording bursting pressure of anastomosis and histological features of healing.METHODSThis experimental study was conducted in 48 Albino Rats (mean weight of 180 g). All rats were subjected to exploratory laparotomy with colonic resection anastomosis and were divided into six groups. Group A and B control, Group C and D were supplemented with Vitamin C in low dose i.e. 100 mg/Kg body, Group E and F high dose of Vitamin C i.e. 200 mg/Kg body wt. Vitamin C was given for seven days intra muscularly. Peritonitis was created by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in half the number of rats (n=24), in each group. Every rat was re-explored on 7th post-operative day and anastomotic segments were harvested for bursting pressure measurement and then sent for histopathology examination.RESULTSBursting Pressure of group D (100 mg) was significantly raised (p<0.05) as compared to group B in the presence of peritonitis. Group F (200 gm vit C) showed significantly higher bursting pressure than group D (p<0.05). The findings of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the mean BP of all the groups differs significantly from each other (p<0.05). High dose vitamin C supplementation gave more strength to anastomosis than low dose even in presence of peritonitis. The average histopathological examination score was 5.24 (Group E) (p<0.05). i.e., best healing among all groups. It had better effect even in presence of peritonitis - 4.62 in Group F. Healing score in this group was greater than group A, B, C, D and less than in group E.CONCLUSIONSPresence of fecal peritonitis hampers the process of healing of colonic anastomosis by impairing reparative collagen synthesis, its deposition and anastomotic strength reflected by decreasedbursting pressure and decrease HPE score. Supplementation of systemic ascorbic acid increases intestinal anastomotic healing by increasing collagen accumulation reflected by increasedbursting pressure and increase HPE score even in presence of peritonitis. High dose ascorbic acid supplementation had better effect on intestinal anastomotic healing. Importance of ascorbic acid in colonic anastomosis healing is yet to be evaluated in human beings.

Is combined therapy more effective than growth hormone or hyperbaric oxygen alone in the healing of left ischemic and non-ischemic colonic anastomoses?

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the effects of growth hormone (GH), hyperbaric oxygen and combined therapy on normal and ischemic colonic anastomoses in rats. METHODS: Eighty male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 10). In the first four groups, non-ischemic colonic anastomosis was performed, whereas in the remaining four groups, ischemic colonic anastomosis was performed. In groups 5, 6, 7, and 8, colonic ischemia was established by ligating 2 cm of the mesocolon on either side of the anastomosis. The control groups (1 and 5) received no treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was initiated immediately after surgery and continued for 4 days in groups 3 and 4. Groups 2 and 6 received recombinant human growth hormone, whereas groups 4 and 8 received GH and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Relaparotomy was performed on postoperative day 4, and a perianastomotic colon segment 2 cm in length was excised for the detection of biochemical and mechanical parameters of anastomotic healing and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Combined treatment with hyperbaric oxygen and GH increased the mean bursting pressure values in all of the groups, and a statistically significant increase was noted in the ischemic groups compared to the controls (p<0.05). This improvement was more evident in the ischemic and normal groups treated with combined therapy. In addition, a histopathological evaluation of anastomotic neovascularization and collagen deposition showed significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment with recombinant human growth hormone and hyperbaric oxygen resulted in a favorable therapeutic effect on the healing of ischemic colonic anastomoses. .

Efeito da icterícia obstrutiva na cicatrização de anastomoses colônicas em ratos

The objective is evaluation of the effect of obstructive jaundice on healing of colonic anastomosis in rats. It was observed more complications such as anastomoses dehiscences and deaths (4/13) X (0/10) in the obstructed group. There was no statistical difference in the concentrations of hidroxyproline on groups.

INTRODUÇÃO: A deiscência de anastomoses é uma das complicações que ocorre em pós-operatórios de cirurgias do aparelho digestivo, aumentando a morbi-mortalidade de pacientes. No cólon, particularmente, essa complicação tem maior gravidade pela presença de fezes dentro da cavidade peritoneal, o que pode levar a peritonites críticas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a cicatrização de anastomoses colônicas em ratos na vigência de icterícia obstrutiva. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 23 ratos divididos em dois grupos. Grupo I (controle): n=10 e Grupo II (obstruído): n=13. No início do experimento foram realizadas ligadura e secção do colédoco. Após sete dias, realizados secção e rafia do cólon distal. No 14º dia de experimento avalia-se condição local da cavidade e resseca-se segmento da anastomose para estudo bioquímico. No grupo II ou Controle (n=10) apenas não se realiza a ligadura de colédoco obedecendo todas as outras condições do grupo I. RESULTADOS: Foi observado maior número de complicações no grupo Obstruído (4/13) do que no Grupo Controle (0/10), mas que foi sem significância estatística e também que a variância dos valores da dosagem de hidroxiprolina no grupo Obstruído foi maior que no grupo Controle mesmo apresentando média de valores semelhantes estatisticamente.