Aim: The aim of this experimental study was to determine if the type of termino-terminal anastomosis of the colon affect the process of healing of the intestinal mucosa and if the severity of the anastomotic leakage (AL) can be predicted based on the circulating level of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP).
Materials and methods: In 18 healthy Wistar rats, two types of open colon resection with termino-terminal anastomosis were performed: group A (n=9) - without inversing the vascularization and group B (n=9) - with inversing the vascularization. To assess the intestinal barrier function, circulating level of I-FABP was measured pre- and post-operatively. I-FABP tissue expression was immunohistochemically assessed in the anastomotic and perianastomotic colonic mucosa. The rats were sacrificed at three, five, and seven days after surgery.
Results: In both groups, the post-operative serum level of I-FABP increased 3-4 times at 3-5 days and seven times in the seventh post-operative day. In the six cases that showed AL, the increased level was significantly higher: seven times at three days (n=2) or five days (n=2) and 30 times at seven days (n=2). The I-FABP epithelial expression was lost in all cases from group B (as result of prolonged ischemia) and in cases with AL from group A. The I-FABP was translocated in the intraglandular mucus.
Conclusions: The post-operative level of I-FABP can be appreciated based on the pre-operative value only. A 7-8 increased value in first five days might indicate a risk of AL. After seven days, a seven times increased value is an indicator of a proper healing process but an increasing amount higher that 30 times might predict risk for AL, fistula, peritonitis and septic shock. The risk of AL does not depend on the anastomotic method, although the level of ischemia is higher in anastomoses that involve vascular damage.