Effects of transient ischemia on the healing small bowel anastomosis

The small bowel may be subjected to transient, yet reversible ischemia in situations such as volvulus, thromboembolism, and low flow states. The surgeon is frequently faced with the necessity of intestinal resection in treating such cases. The remaining bowel, while judged viable may have been exposed to significant ischemic injury. The surgeon must decide whether such bowel will heal satisfactorily if used in an anastomosis. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of transient ischemia on intestinal anastomotic healing in the rat. Male albino rats were subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion for periods of 30 minutes or 45 minutes. The circulation was then re-established. The small bowel was the transected and anastomosed. Animals in each group were sacrificed at 7 and 10 days and bursting pressures performed to test the healing of the anastomosis. Results were compared with a control group having an anastomosis without precedent ischemia. There were no significant differences among the groups. The data clearly indicate that if the bowel remains viable following an ischemic insult its healing is unimpaired.