EFFECTS OF AN INTRAABDOMINAL LATEX (DRAIN-LIKE) TUBE ON ANASTOMOTIC RESISTANCE AND ADHESION FORMATION IN A RAT MODEL

PURPOSE: Aim of the present study was to determine effect of a latex d rain on colonic resistance and its relation to adhesion phenomena. MET HODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups (n = 20): Group 1, simple colonic anastomosis; and Group 2, colonic anastomosis with drain ''ad latum.'' Rats were sacrificed four days after surgery , and adhesions were evaluated. Segment containing anastomosis was rem oved, and bursting pressure tvas determined. RESULTS: General adhesion scores in Group 2 were higher than in Group 1 (P = 0.002). Score for adhesions to anastomotic line in Group 1 was higher than in Group 2 (P = 0.016). Bursting pressure was significantly lower in Group 2 (Group 1, 67.90 +/- 31.39 mmHg, Group 2, 46.95 +/- 29.69 mmHg; P = 0.034). I n all cases, leakage of dye was observed at the anastomotic Line. A mu ltiple regression test was applied to both groups (40 cases), taking b ursting pressure as the dependent variable and other parameters as ind ependent variables. A strong relationship appeared to exist between an astomotic resistance and fraction of anastomotic line that was covered by the neighboring organ (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Placing a latex dr ain near a colonic anastomosis is associated with local inhibition of spontaneous adhesions to anastomotic line and, therefore, to significa ntly decreased resistance.