Does sepsis impair the healing of colonic anastomosis in splenectomized rats

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of splenectomy on the healing of colonic anastomoses under normal and septic conditions. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were assigned into six groups: group 1: sham, group 2: colonic anastomose, group 3: splenectomy, group 4: colonic anastomose plus sepsis, group 5: colonic anastomose plus splenectomy, group 6: colonic anastomose plus splenectomy plus sepsis. The rats underwent a standardized left colonic resection and primary anastomosis and/or splenectomy. Sepsis was produced by cecal ligation and puncture. Wound healing was evaluated by bursting pressure and hydroxiproline estimates. RESULTS: Bursting pressures were as follows: group 1: 173 +/- 14 mmHg, group 2: 186 +/- 7 mmHg, group 3: 168 +/- 6 mmHg, group 4: 113 +/- 14 mmHg, group 5: 167 +/- 10 mmHg, and group 6: 183 +/- 3 mmHg. Hidroksiprolin contents were: group 1: 3.5 +/- 0.2 microg/mg, group 2: 3.2 +/- 0.3 microg/mg, group 3: 3.4 +/- 0.2 microg/mg, group 4: 2.3 +/- 0.2 microg/mg, group 5: 3.0 +/- 0.2 microg/mg, grup 6 3.2 +/- 0.1 microg/mg. Statistical significance was found between group 4 and the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sepsis impairs the healing of colonic anastomoses. However, sepsis does not impair the intestinal wound healing in splenectomized rats.