The influence of omentectomy on the inflammatory phase of anastomotic healing

Background/Aims: Proper wound healing of the alimentary tract is essential for the prevention of the significant mortality and morbidity associated wi th complications. The effects of omentectomy on the inflammatory phase of a nastomotic healing in rats were examined. Methodology: Sixty male Wistar-Albino rats that weighed about 200-220g were used in this study. Animals were divided into three groups as colon anasto mosis, colon anastomosis + pai tial omentectomy and colon anastomosis + tot al omentectomy. On the third postoperative day, all animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Bursting pressure of anastomosis amounts and types of ce lls in the anastomosis, and nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismu tase levels in the anastomosis and serum was examined. Results: Bursting pressure values were 102.60 +/- 13.41mm Hg, 105 +/- 10.80 mm Hg and 102.50 +/- 11.12mm Hg in the colon anastomosis, colon anastomosis + partial omentectomy and colon anastomosis + total omentectomy groups, re spectively (P > 0.05). A significant increase in macrophage count was found in the colon anastomosis + total omentectomy group when. compared with the colon-anastomosis group (P = 0.002). According to the comparisons With per centages, there was a significant difference in lymphocyte counts between c olon anastomosis and colon anastomosis + total omentectomy groups (P = 0.04 ). The-blood level of superoxide dismutase was higher in the colon anastomo sis + total omentectomy group than the other two groups, a nd in the colon: anastomoses + partial - omentectomy group than the colon anastomoses group (P = 0.0001). There was a significant increase in the,blood level of nitri c oxide when comparing the colon anastomosis + total omentectomy group with colon anastomosis group (P = 0.02). The tissue level of malondialdehyde, w as higher in the colon anastomosis + total omentectomy - group than the oth er two groups (P < 0.0001). Conclusions; Omentectomy may influence the outcome of the inflammatory phas e of wound healing in rats. But systemic compensatory regulation of body ca n tolerate these, detrimental effects and wound healing continues in it's r egular manner.