OBJETIVE: There is a need to clearly define the affect of A and C vitamines in the healing of intestinal anastomosis on individuals under corticosteroid treatment, and this is the objetive of this study. METHODS: Fifty Wistar rats weighing 247± 22g were randomly separated in five groups. They were observated in individual cages with water and standard food ad libitum. The anesthesia was done with sodium pentobarbital 20 mg/Kg, intraperitoneal. During seven days preoperative and seven days after surgery, the groups were submmited to the protocol: I-control; II-metilprednisolone IM; III- metilprednisolone + vitamine A; IV- metilprednisolone + vitamine C; V- metilprednisolone + Vit. A + Vit. C. An enterectomy (1cm) and anastomosis was done, using nylon 6-0. In the seventh postoperative day, the tensil strength of the anastomosis was measured and a representative sample of the healing tissue was fixed in formaline 10% to histopatologic study under hematoxilin-eosine Masson tricromic process. The data were analised by the t Student test, considering significance 0,05. RESULTS: The bursting pressure of anastomosis of the group I (control) had no difference when compared with V group (Vitamine A and C) ( p>0,05). The difference was statisticaly significant when the I and V groups were compared with the II, III and IV groups (p<0,05). An insignificant difference was observed between the III e IV groups (p>0,05). The control group (I) had histopatologic score 142± 17, significantly shorter than group II - metilprednisolene - (95± 22). The difference was not significant when compared the control and the V group (Vitamin A and C), with the score (153± 15). CONCLUSION: the vitamin A and C, when used toghether, contributes to revert the deleterious effects of corticosteroid in the healing of intestinal anastomosis in rats.
Vitamin A and C; Healing; Intestine; Anastomosis
