The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the burst strength and the collagen concentration in a left colonic anastomosis when peritonitis was present. Forty Wistar male rats were used, with a mean age of 120 days and a mean weight of 302 g. The animals were allocated in two groups of 20 animals each: a control group and an experimental group. Under ether anesthesia, the rats of the experimental group were submitted to a laparotomy and the abdominal sepsis was induced according to the Wichterman method, while those in the control group were submitted to laparotomy and manipulation of the intestinal segments involved in the experiment. Twenty four hours later, the animals underwent to a new laparotomy and a left colonic anastomosis, with a single layer of polypropilene interrupted suture, 2,0 cm above the peritoneal reflection. On the 3rd and 7th post-operative day, the colonic segment with the anastomosis was resected in order to evaluate the bursting strength . The Red Sirius dye was used to evaluate collagen concentration in the histopathological study. Results showed in both groups an increase in the bursting strength , relating to post-operative day. Collagen concentration was poorer in the peritonitis group on the 3rd and 7th post-operative days (p = 0.000168) (p = 0.0020) respectively. The percentages of collagen I and III were similar on the 3rd post-operative day. On the 7th day, however, collagen type III (p =0.000079) predominated in the peritonitis group. The results above showed that the concentration and maturation of collagen are reduced in a colonic anastomosis performed when peritonitis is present. These alterations does not interfere in the bursting strength.
Wound healing; Colon; Peritonitis
