BACKGROUNDA new procedure of colonic anastomosis with a degradable stent has already been proven to be simple, feasible, and safe in our porcine model. In this study, we evaluated its impact on the colonic physiologic functions.

METHODSA total of 20 pigs were assigned randomly to either a stent anastomosis group (SA, n = 10) or a conventional anastomosis group (CA, n = 10). Colonic anastomosis with a degradable stent was performed in the SA group, and conventional hand-sewn anastomosis was performed in the CA group. Body weight, fecal weight, total colonic transit time, immunohistochemistry staining of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), plasma diamine oxidases (DAO) levels, and Western blotting analysis of occludin were evaluated before and after anastomosis.

RESULTSNo obvious diarrhea or constipation was observed in all pigs. No significant difference in body weight between the groups was detected at any time. Yet, the fecal weight was less in the CA group compared with the SA group on postoperative day (POD) 7. No observable colonic paralysis or retention occurred. For total colonic transit time, there was no significant difference between the two groups at any time or among different time points in the same group. The integrated optical density of ICC showed no significant difference on either POD 14 or 30. The plasma DAO levels were remarkably elevated after surgery, and began to decrease since POD 3. However, there was no significant difference between both two groups in plasma DAO levels at any time either. For both groups, the expression of occludin was not significantly different from their pre-surgery level on either POD 14 or 30.

CONCLUSIONSAccording to these results, this procedure with a degradable stent was supposed to be the same as the conventional hand-sewn procedure in their impact on the colonic physiologic functions.