ADVANCED AGE ALONE DOES NOT SUPPRESS ANASTOMOTIC HEALING IN THE INTESTINE

Background. Because retrospective clinical studies yield conflicting r esults and experimental data are completely absent, this study was per formed to determine whether anastomotic repair in the intestine deteri orates with age. Methods. Ileal and colonic anastomoses were construct ed in two groups of healthy rats, ages 2 to 3 months and 27 to 30 mont hs, respectively. Healing was assessed, both 3 and 7 days after operat ion, by measuring anastomotic bursting pressure, breaking strength, an d collagen content, the latter both biochemically (hydroxyproline) and morphometrically. In addition, the ex vivo collagen synthetic capacit ies were compared. Results. The development of anastomotic strength wa s similar in young and old rats; average strength increased from 3 to 7 days and was never lower in the older animals. This was true both bu rsting pressure and breaking strength. The collagen production capacit y was suppressed in the old rats. particularly in the ileum (p < 0.05) , whereas the synthesis of noncollagenous protein remained unaltered. However, this did not result in a reduced accumulation of collagen In the anastomotic area-both anastomotic hydroxyproline content and the v olume percentage of collagen in the actual wound area were Conclusions , Advanced age per se does not affect development of strength or depos ition of collagen during early repair of intestinal anastomoses.