Objective: To determine the prevention of adhesions interferes with the healing of jejunal anastomosis.
Participants: Twenty-five rats allocated into five groups.
Interventions: Group 1- intraperitoneal injection of 12ml-1% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC). Groups 2-5- jejunal anastomosis. Groups 3 and 5- intraperitoneal SCMC-12 ml. The animals of the groups 2 and 4- only anastomosis. The rats of the groups 2 and 3- reopened on the 5th and those of groups 4 and 5 on the 21st postoperative days. Abdominal adhesions were graded and burst pressure of the anastomosis measured. Histological studies of anastomotic healing were performed.
Results: Group 1 did not present any abnormality. Groups reopened on the 5th day did not differ in the burst pressures of the anastomosis and adhesion grades. The burst pressures in the groups reopened on the 21st postoperative day also did not differ. Histological patterns were similar in both groups on the 5th day, but on the 21st day, the rats treated with SCMC showed a maturer intestinal healing.
Conclusions: The prevention of adhesions not only did not interfere with jejunal anastomotic resistance, but also improved the intestinal healing in the rat.