Since the XIX century the greater omentum has been used for different purposes in the surgical practice. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of the omental wrapping on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats. Sixty four, Wistar male rats were used. The animals were divided in four groups (A,AN,B,C). A colonic anastomoses located 5 cm from the anal verge was performed in three different ways: for A and AN groups the anastomoses was done in one layer with 8 nylon interrupted propylene(prolene) slitches, for B group an ischemic anastomose was created and for group C a deficient anastomose was performed .Half of animals in each group had this anastomose protected by omental wrapping (AO, ANO, BO, CO). All the animals were sacrificed on the 7th P.O. In the AN and ANO groups just before the sacrifice a dye (China ink) was injected in order to evaluate the neovascularity of the anastomoses. We concluded that the omental wrapping increased the vascularity in the colonic anastomoses improving its healing and decreasing the adhesions on the anastomotic line.
Great omentum; Colonic anastomoses; Healing