The effect of polyethylene glycol and butyrate on anastomotic healing in the rat colon.
BACKGROUND
The use of mechanical bowel preparation is much debated.


METHODS
We evaluated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG), with or without a single dose of 3.0 mmol butyrate (BUT), on the bursting pressure (BP) of an intact colon segment and a colon anastomosis in rats. Also, histopathologic damage was studied.


RESULTS
In rats without colectomy, the mean BP was 159.2 mmHg (SD=18.9) after PEG treatment and 116.7 mmHg (SD=27.5) in controls (p=0.001). In rats with colectomy, the mean BP was 90.4 mmHg (SD=45.9) in the PEG group, 108.0 mmHg (SD=31.9) in the BUT group, and 102.7 mmHg (SD=44.7) in controls (p=0.44). No significant differences in histopathologic scores were observed between rats treated with PEG and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
PEG does not interfere with anastomotic healing in rats as measured by BP. No benefit of a single dose of butyrate was observed.
Fa-Si-Oen
P
P
Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Clinic Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
van de Gender
P
P
Putter
H
H
Ectors
N
N
D'Hoore
A
A
Topal
B
B
Penninckx
F
F
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003082:Colectomy; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D002087:Butyrates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols