Effect of inferior mesenteric artery ligation on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the healing of single-layer end-to-end colonic anastomoses in rats in which the inferior mesenteric artery had been ligated.

DESIGN

Controlled experiment.

SETTING

Medical school, Poland.

ANIMALS

20, 2-month-old inbred Buffalo rats (n = 10 in each group).

INTERVENTIONS

Laparotomy with ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (laparotomy alone in the control group), followed by segmental colonic resection and primary anastomosis 24 hours later, and resection of the anastomosis 4 days later.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Degree of contamination and inflammation of peritoneal cavity and histological evaluation of the anastomosis.

RESULTS

No animal died and no anastomosis leaked. There were no histological differences in the extent of early healing between the groups. In 2 animals in the experimental group pathogens were grown from the peritoneal culture (Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis in each case).

CONCLUSION

High ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery had no deleterious effect on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats.