Purpose: To evaluate the healing process of gastric suture in rats using hydroalcoholic aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) extract.
Methods: Forty adult male rats, divided into two groups of 20 animals were operated and named as follows: aroeira group (Ga), and the control group (Gc). Each group was divided into two subgroups (SG) of 10 animals (SGa and SGc) according to the time of provoked death (three and seven days). The same surgical procedure was performed in all animals consisting in incision and simple suture of the stomach (Prolene(R) 6-0). The only difference was on the type of medical treatment. The aroeira group received a single 100 mg/kg of aroeira extract in an intraperitoneal dose and the animals from the control group received the same quantity in milliliters (ml) of the isotonic saline solution. The evaluated parameters were: macroscopic alterations, microscopic healing process and toleration to atmospheric air insufflation.
Results: All animals had good healing process of abdominal wall with no clinical evidence of infection, dehiscence, abscesses and peritonitis. Both groups presented adherences to gastric suture line area with surrounding organs, mainly the liver, lower intestines and the abdominal wall. Microscopic analysis showed only chronic inflammation significant difference between the aroeira and control groups on the third day of observation. Resistance tests did not present significant statistical differences in the studied groups.
Conclusion: The use of aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) hydro-alcoholic extract did not alter the stomach healing process, considered on macroscopic, tensiometric and microscopic assessment.