Effect of intraperitoneal erythropoietin on the degree of mucosal damage of left colon flaps in rats.

BACKGROUND: Several modifications to an esophageal replacement approach have been described, using the left, the right, or the transverse colon as an interposition flap. Interposition of the left colon has become the most popular procedure. Intraoperative clamping of the arterial blood supply and venous drainage of the flap is a possible reason for ischemic flap failure. Thus, we designed a novel model to investigate whether erythropoietin (EPO), which has a tissue-protective effect in ischemia, would have any protective effect on prepared colon flaps in rats. METHODS: A total of 56 rats were randomly divided into four main groups, consisting of sham, sham + EPO, colon flap, and colon flap + EPO, and each main group was divided into two sub-groups. In the colon flap and colon flap + EPO groups, the colon flap was prepared and the pediculated free flap fixed tautly to the anterior abdominal wall. The sub-groups were subjected to post-reoperative histopathological investigation on the first and the seventh days, respectively. RESULTS: Our model was reliable for research related to colon interposition techniques. There was significant histopathological damage in the colon flap group both for the long and short limbs of the flap. On the other hand, EPO administration prevented the mucosal damage seen in the colon flap group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a colon flap attached tautly to the abdominal side wall simulates colon transposition techniques and also shows that intraperitoneal EPO markedly decreases flap damage in rats with prepared colon flaps.

The effectiveness of sucralfate against stricture formation in experimental corrosive esophageal burns.

PURPOSE: In this study, the effectiveness of sucralfate against stricture formation in experimental corrosive esophageal burn is reported. METHODS: Sixty-four Swiss albino adult male rats were divided into three groups, group A (control; n, 7), group B (esophageal burn induced but not treated; n, 25), and group C (esophageal burn induced and treated with sucralfate, n, 32). Groups B and C were further subdivided into subgroups for evaluation on days 2, 7, and 28. A standard esophageal burn was performed by the method of Gehanno, using 50% NaOH. Oral sucralfate treatment was given to group C at a dosage of 50 mg/100 g twice daily. The rats were then killed after 2, 7, or 28 days. Levels of tissue hydroxyproline were measured in excised abdominal esophageal segments, and a histopathological evaluation was performed with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. RESULTS: The tissue hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in group C than in group B (P = 0.017). There was a significant difference in the stenosis index between groups B and C (P = 0.016). When compared with group B, the collagen deposition in the submucosa and tunica muscularis was significantly lower in group C (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Sucralfate has an inhibitory effect on stricture formation in experimental corrosive burns and can be used in the treatment of corrosive esophageal burns to enhance mucosal healing and suppress stricture formation.