Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves colorectal anastomotic healing

Area of Science:

• Surgical Research
• Oxygen Therapy
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Ischemic colorectal anastomosis is prone to poor healing and complications.
• Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is known to improve oxygenation in poorly vascularized tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of HBOT on the healing process of ischemic colorectal anastomoses in a rat model.
• To assess HBOT's influence on anastomotic integrity and associated complications.

Main Methods:

• Forty Wistar rats underwent colectomy with ischemic anastomosis.
• The treatment group received HBOT for 10 days (7 days pre-op, 3 days post-op); the control group did not.
• Outcomes were evaluated at 3 and 7 days post-surgery, assessing dehiscence, bursting pressure, and adhesion severity.

Main Results:

• HBOT significantly reduced anastomotic dehiscence compared to controls (0% vs. 37.5% at POD 3, 28.6% at POD 7).
• The HBOT group exhibited higher anastomotic bursting pressure and reduced adhesion severity.
• Postoperative kidney function (creatinine levels) was significantly improved in the HBOT group; increased CD206+ cells were noted.

Conclusions:

• HBOT effectively enhances the healing of ischemic colorectal anastomoses in rats.
• The therapy also confers benefits to postoperative kidney function and modulates the inflammatory response.