[Comparison of 2 types of experimental transplant in the treatment of lethal short bowel syndrome]

To evaluate the functional response, morbidity and histostructural changes in rats enterectomized and without cecum using two types of syngenic enteral transplants.

Controlled randomized surgical-therapeutic trial. Four groups of male Lewis rats 8-10 weeks old underwent the following procedures: 1. Lethal enteral resection (n = 10). 2. Lethal enteral resection + total yeyuno-ileal transplant (n = 28). 3. Lethal enteral resection + distal segmentary of 40% and cecum transplant (n = 32). 4. Control group (n = 10).

11% of the transplanted animals died due to technical failures; both transplanted groups had a similar proportion of late complications, mostly enteral obstruction. A persistent diarrhea was observed in 20% of the yeyuno-ileal transplanted group, but no significant differences were found between the two groups concerning survival, weight gain, protein and triglycerides serum levels, and a maltose absorption test; villus and crypt hypertrophy was observed in both grafts. The enteral graft integration was followed by structural changes similar to those found in intestinal remnants on deficit conditions after enteral resection.

The bowel distal segmentary transplant with ileocecal valve and cecum may be a good option in cases of irreversible enteral failure, as the functional response and morbidity are similar to those found with the standard total transplant.