Effects of steroid on the healing of colonic anastomoses in the rat.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of steroid on colonic anastomosis in a rat model.


METHODS
Forty female Wistar rats were randomised into two groups. After resection of a 1-cm segment of the transverse colon, an end-to-end sutured anastomosis was performed. In the rats of the control group 2 ml of solution 0.9% NaCl was injected once daily intraperitoneally perioperatively. Rats of the steroid group received intraperitoneally once daily, and on the same perioperative days, hydrocortisone (5 mg/kg body weight in 2 ml solution NaCl). All the rats were sacrificed on the 8th postoperative day and the anastomoses were examined macroscopically. The bursting pressure measurements were recorded and anastomoses were graded histologically.


RESULTS
Dehiscence rate was significantly higher in the steroid group than in the control group (p<0.001). Mean bursting pressure was significantly lower in the steroid group compared to the control group (p<0.001). Colonic healing process assessed as inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition was significantly lower in the steroid group than in the control group (p<0.001, p=0.03 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative steroid treatment adversely affects healing of colonic anastomoses in the rat.
Mantzoros
I
I
4th Surgical Department, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Kanellos
I
I
Demetriades
H
H
Christoforidis
E
E
Kanellos
D
D
Pramateftakis
M G
MG
Zaraboukas
T
T
Betsis
D
D
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D006854:Hydrocortisone