Purpose: To assess the effect of prokinetic agents on abdominal wall wound healing in rats submitted to segmental colectomy and colonic anastomosis.
Methods: Sixty rats were randomly allocated into three groups according to the agents they would receive in the postoperative period: M (metoclopramide); B (bromopride); and C (control, saline 0.9%). Surgical procedures were performed identically in all animals, and consisted of a midline laparotomy followed by resection of a 1-cm segment of large bowel with end-to-end anastomosis. The abdominal wall was closed in two layers with running stitches. Abdominal wall samples were collected on the 3rd or 7th postoperative day for measurement of breaking (tensile) strength and histopathological assessment.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences in tensile strength of the abdominal wall scar between groups M, B, and C, nor between the three and seven days after surgery subgroups. On histopathological assessment, there were no statistically significant between-group differences in collagen deposition or number of fibroblasts at the wound site
Conclusion: Use of the prokinetic drugs metoclopramide or bromopride had no effect on abdominal wall healing in rats submitted to segmental colectomy and colonic anastomosis.