A Research Model of Measuring the Tensile Strength of Colonic Anastomosis in Wistar Rats

The present experimental study investigates the mechanical behavior of intestinal anastomoses in  Wistar rats. More specifically the response of the anastomoses to a properly applied uniaxial direct  tensile load is studied and the respective tensile strength is determined. The surgical procedure of large  bowel anastomoses is described in detail. In addition the authors provide a thorough description of  the experimental apparatus, designed especially for measuring the tensile strength of the specimens  under study, with special consideration in gripping of the intestine, the load application and the data  acquisition and storage systems. This experimental model provides an excellent method for measuring the  anastomotic strength and therefore a flexible tool for the comparative evaluation of various anastomotic  techniques.Â