Effect of hypercholesterolemia on experimental colonic anastomotic wound healing in rats

AIM:To evaluate the mechanical and biochemicalparameters of colonic anastomotic healing inhypercholesterolemic rats.METHODS:Sixty rats were divided into two groups of 30each according to their dietary regimens.The test groupwas fed with a high cholesterol-containing diet for twomonths while the control group had standard diet.Thesetwo groups were further divided into three subgroupsconsisting of ten rats each.After hypercholesterolemiawas established,left colon resection and anastomosiswere performed in both groups and samples from liverand abdominal aorta were taken to evaluate the systemiceffects of hypercholesterolemia.Anastomotic woundhealing,blow-out pressures and tissue hydroxyprolinelevels were evaluated.RESULTS:The test group had a significant weight gainin two months.Microscopic examination of the abdominalaorta revealed no atherosclerotic change in none of thegroups,but liver tissue specimens showed significantsteatosis in the test group.Tissue hydroxyproline levelsand anastomotic blow-out pressures were significantlylower in the test group than in the controls.CONCLUSION:Hypercholesterolemia not only increaseshydroxyproline levels and blow-out pressures but alsoworsens anastomotic wound healing.