The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of colocolonic anastomosis with and without preoperative bowel preparation. METHODS: The study compared 42 female dogs (Canis familiaris), divided into 2 groups of 21 animals: Group I (control) - submitted to bowel preparation - and Group II (study) - without previous bowel preparation -. All animals were submitted to laparotomy with sectioning of the descending colon and primary anastomosis using polypropylene thread. Following euthanasia on the 21st postoperative day (POD), a second laparotomy was performed to evaluate the anastomosis with regard to complications, intra-abdominal adhesions and anastomotic burst pressure. RESULTS: One animal from each group (4.5%) died. The death in Group I occurred on seventh POD due to anastomotic dehiscence. The death in Group II occurred on tenth POD due to deep incisional infection at the surgical site and complete dehiscence of the abdominal wall. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to adhesion grade or anastomotic burst pressure (one specimen burst in each group) (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Colocolonic anastomosis without previous bowel preparation was shown to be safe and efficacious, suggesting it is not an indispensable procedure in colorectal anastomosis surgery.
colorectal surgery; postoperative complications; anastomotic leak
