LAUSR

Colonic anastomoses make up an important proportion (30%) of gastrointestinal system surgeries (9, 26), and anastomotic leakages following procedures that require colon resection are of significant importance. Anastomotic leakage has also been reported among the main reasons for postoperative mortality and morbidity (12). Fistula formation, bleeding and anastomotic stenosis are among other complications that develop after colonic anastomoses. Preventing leakage in the anastomotic line, decreasing tension and maintaining blood supply to the affected area are important, and many suturing techniques have been developed for this purpose (15). Various anastomosis methods can be used to prevent anastomotic leakage, and various measures, such as antibiotic prophylaxis, fasting before surgery and bowel preparation by enema or purgatives, should become a rule. The purpose of colonic anastomosis is to promote recovery without complications in the shortest possible time without causing stenosis in the bowel lumen or intestinal leakage (4, 9, 26). Suturing/stapling and suture-free techniques have been attempted for this purpose. However, these techniques have not yielded a perfect result. Several suture-free methods have been developed as an alternative to suturing methods, but various complications, mainly anastomotic stenosis, have been reported for them (3, 4, 8, 14, 16). The main causes of the complications of colonic anastomoses are prolonged immobilisation of the colon while preparing for anastomosis, overuse of cauterisation to achieve haemostasis, prolonged and very tight gripping with haemostatic forceps, as well as tight suturing and stapling causing damage and ischaemia in vascular tissues (4, 8). In addition to synthetic and organic meshes (4), absorbable surgical barrier films (8) and prebiotics such as kephir (9), procedures such as omentoplasty (16) have been attempted to prevent leakage after colonic anastomosis. Dexpanthenol is an antioxidant agent, and it is converted to pantothenic acid when administered orally or 1) This study was supported by Kafkas University, Scientific Research Project Commission (Project No. 2017-TS-49) and presented as an oral presentation at V. International Multidisciplinary Congress of Eurasia, Barcelona, Spain, July 24-26, 2018. Effect of dexpanthenol on colonic anastomosis healing in rats1)