Anastomotic breaking strength and healing of anastomoses in rat intestine with and without chronic radiation damage.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of chronic radiation damage on anastomotic healing in the small bowel in rats.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
University hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
90 male Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
A short segment of the distal ileum was exteriorised and irradiated with a single dose (experimental group, n = 45) or exposed only (control group, n = 45). Twenty weeks later resection and anastomosis were done within this segment using 7/0 polypropylene.


METHODS
The anastomotic breaking strength, the amount of perianastomotic hydroxyproline, and the number of anastomotic complications.


RESULTS
The breaking strength and the amount of perianastomotic hydroxyproline were higher in the irradiated than in the non-irradiated group. In contrast, anastomotic complications were significantly more common in irradiated animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Anastomotic complications in irradiated intestine are not related to the amount of perianastomotic collagen or to breaking strength.
Jahnson
S
S
Department of Urology, Orebro Medical Center, Sweden.
Graf
W
W
Rikner
G
G
Gerdin
B
B
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007082:Ileum / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*
D006909:Hydroxyproline