[Influence of ascorbic acid on anastomosis and in jejunal loop in rat].

Background: The effects of vitamin C on anastomotic healing process are controversial.

Objective: To compare the jejunal anastomotic tension and in the upright segment in different postoperative periods.

Method: Fifty male rats weighing 250 to 400 grams were submitted to laparotomy. The jejunum was transversally cut 10 cm from the duodenojejunal flexure, and subsequently anastomosed. The rats were divided into two groups (n = 25). Group I--control, Group II--oral administration of vitamin C (100 mg/kg). The anastomotic and the upright segment resistance was determined by using bursting pressure test on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 21st and 28th postoperative days.

Results: The rats submitted to oral administration of ascorbic acid show higher bursting pressure on the 5th, 7th and 28th postoperative days. The bursting resistances of the upright segment was higher on the rats submitted to vitamin C ingestion.

Conclusions: Vitamin C enhances the anastomotic and jejunal resistances. Moreover, the final resistance on the upright jejunal segment was significant higher than in the control group.