Mechanical behavior of colonic anastomosis in experimental settings as a measure of wound repair and tissue integrity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the mechanical properties of anastomotic colonic tissue in experimental settings and therefore give a measure of wound healing.


METHODS
Thirty-six male Wistar rats were used as experimental models of anastomotic tissue integrity. On the 5th post-operative day, the tensile strength was measured by application of an axial force, providing a quantitative measure of anastomotic dehiscence and leakage.


RESULTS
Diagrams of the load as a function of the time [P = P (t)] and of the displacement also as a function of time [Delta s = Delta s (t)] were recorded for each test, permitting the design of the load versus the displacement diagram and thus providing significant data about the critical values of anastomotic failure. Quantitative data were obtained concerning the anastomotic strength of both control specimens (healthy rats), as well as specimens from non-healthy rats for comparison.


CONCLUSIONS
This experimental model provides an excellent method of measuring anastomotic strength. Despite the relative small number of specimens used, this method provides an accurate way of measuring wound repair. More experimental measurements need to be performed to correlate emerging tensile strength values to anastomotic failure.
Ekmektzoglou
Konstantinos A
KA
Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research "NS Christeas", University of Athens, Medical School, Greece, Melissia, Athens 15127, Greece. ekmektzo@hotmail.com
Zografos
Georgios C
GC
Kourkoulis
Stavros K
SK
Dontas
Ismene A
IA
Giannopoulos
Panagiotis K
PK
Marinou
Katerina A
KA
Poulakou
Maria V
MV
Perrea
Despina N
DN
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*