Effect of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and methylprednisolone on the healing of jejunal anastomoses in rats

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) has been effective in reducing adhesio n formation and corticosteroids reduce the inflammatory process. The object ive of this study was to define the intraperitoneal (ip) effects of SCMC co mbined with intramuscular (im) methylprednisolone on peritoneal adhesion fo rmation and on jejunal anastomosis healing in rats. Twenty Wistar rats (200 -350 g) were divided into four groups (:N = 5): groups I and III (controls) 5 and 21 days of treatment before sacrifice, respectively; groups II and I V (experimental groups) 5 and 21 days of treatment, respectively. SCMC (1%) was infused into the abdominal cavity and methylprednisolone (10 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) was injected im daily from the day before surgery for animals of groups II and IV. All rats were submitted to a jejunal anastomosis. Section s of the anastomosis were prepared for routine histopathological analysis. The abdominal adhesion of group N was less intense when compared with group III (P<0.0008). Anastomotic resistance was higher in groups II and IV when compared with groups I and III, respectively (P<0.05), There was no histol ogical difference between groups I and II (exuberant granulation tissue on the serosal surface). Group III presented little peritoneal fibrinous tissu e, with numerous thick collagen fibers. Group IV presented extensive althou gh immature young fibrous tissue with rare thick collagen fibers. Sodium ca rboxymethylcellulose combined with corticosteroids seemed to diminish perit oneal adhesion hut did not reduce anastomotic resistance.