EFFECTS OF OCTREOTIDE ON HEALING OF INTESTINAL ANASTOMOSIS FOLLOWING SMALL-BOWEL OBSTRUCTION IN RATS

PURPOSE: Octreotide is an analog of somatostatin, with the same biolog ic effects but a longer half-life than somatostatin. The purpose of th is experimental study was to search the effects of octreotide on the h ealing of bowel anastomosis and to observe the anatomic and physiologi c changes in the obstructed bowel. METHODS: Two groups of ten male Wis tar albino rats (average weight, 250 grams) were used in this study. O ne group was the octreotide group, and the other was the control group . In both groups, the basal diameters of jejunum were measured before ligation of the bowel 20 cm from the duodenum. Octreotide was administ ered subcutaneously (7 mu g/kg/day, in two equal doses) in the first g roup, and the same volume of saline was used in the control group. Dia meters of the obstructed segments were measured, and sodium and potass ium levels, obtained from the luminal fluid of the obstructed bowel, w ere recorded 48 hours following the first operation. Dilated segments were resected, and end-to-end intestinal anastomoses were performed. I n rats sacrificed on the fourth and seventh days following the second operation, bursting pressures of the anastomotic and hydroxyproline le vels in tissue samples taken from the anastomosis were measured. RESUL TS: The diameter of the obstructed bowel increased significantly in th e control group (P < 0.05), Sodium and potassium tosses were significa ntly less in the octreotide group (P < 0.001 for sodium; P < 0.01 for potassium). In histopathologic examination, ischemic changes were more evident in the control group (P < 0.05). Anastomotic bursting pressur e differences were not significant on the fourth postoperative day (P > 0.05), but differences were significant on the seventh postoperative day (P < 0.05). Anastomotic tissue hydroxproline synthesis on the fou rth and seventh postoperative days of the octreotide and control group s did not show significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this experimental model, it appears that octreotide attenuates the ischemic changes and electrolyte losses in the obstructed bowel.