The effect of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum on the healing colonic anastomosis in rats
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Updated: May 8, 2026

Creation of Colonic Anastomosis in Mice
Published on: January 17, 2019
Leonardo de Castro Durães1, Igor Eduardo Caetano de Farias, Pedro Henrique Alves de Morais
1Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine,, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasilia-DF, Brazil.
Purpose:
To investigate the effects of pneumoperitoneum on colonic anastomosis healing.
Methods:
Colonic anastomosis was performed in 120 rats divided into four groups: Group I - pneumoperitoneum before laparotomy, Group II - pneumoperitoneum after laparorrhaphy, Group III - pneumoperitoneum before laparotomy and after laparorrhaphy, Group IV - no pneumoperitoneum (control group). Pneumoperitoneum pressure was 5 mmHg. Animals were killed on the 3rd, 7th and 14th postoperative day. Histopathological features, anastomosis breaking strength, collagen histomorphometry and hydroxyproline concentration were assessed.
Results:
Breaking strength between groups: (day 3, p=0.165; day 7, p=0.219; day 14, p=0.539). Histopathology revealed that group II had, on day 7, less infiltration of mononuclear cells (p=0.006), greater infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells (p=0.001) and greater necrosis (p=0.001); and on day 14, less fibrosis. Histomorphometry revealed a decrease in collagen in groups I and III (p<0.001) on day 7 and an increase in groups I and II on day 14 (p<0.001). Hydroxyproline concentration was similar for groups on days 3 (p=0.152), 7 (p=0.913) or 14 (p=0.981).
Conclusion:
Carbon dioxide does not impair the healing of colonic anastomosis in rats.

