Effect of diclofenac sodium on the healing process of end-to-end anastomosis in carotid arteries of rabbits. Histopathological and biomechanical studies.
OBJECTIVE
Diclofenac sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to attenuate painful inflammatory reactions in surgery. However, it may delay healing in the skin and gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Diclofenac in vascular healing.


METHODS
Ninety rabbits had their carotid arteries sectioned and reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis with interrupted sutures. The animals were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 30 each and treated by intramuscular route with saline (control), 5 mg/kg/day of diclofenac sodium (DS-5), and 10 mg/kg/day of diclofenac sodium (DS-10). Treatment began on the day of surgery and lasted 4 days. Angiography, biomechanical properties (failure load, failure elongation, yield point, yield point elongation, and stiffness were obtained from the load/elongation curve), macroscopic and histological examinations (hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, Calleja, Picrossirius-red), and scanning electron microscopy were studied in both arteries on the 3rd and 15th postoperative days.


RESULTS
No significant differences in biomechanical properties were observed either in the 3 groups or the experimental times. The carotid artery healing process was similar in the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Diclofenac sodium did not cause alterations nor delayed carotid artery healing.
Freire Cerqueira
N
N
Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil. nereide@fmvz.unesp.br
Hussni
C A
CA
Bonetti Yoshida
W
W
Swain Müller
S
S
Sequeira
J L
JL
Rodrigues
A C
AC
Mattar
L
L
Crocci
A J
AJ
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac