Effect of Nifedipine on the Healing of Left Colonic Anastomoses in Rats

Purpose Ca²⁺ channel blockers inhibit collagenase production and have a vasodilatatory effect. They also restrict the formation of ischemia-reperfusion induced free oxygen radicals. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nifedipine on the healing of colonic anastomoses in a rat model.Methods Sixty Wistar rats weighing 240–290g were divided into four groups of 15 rats each: a 3rd day control group (group A), a 3rd day treatment group (group B), a 7th day control group (group C), and a 7th day treatment group (group D). The treatment groups were given Nifedipine 3mg/kg per day orally as three divided doses.Results The bursting pressure values of the anastomoses in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P 0.05). The hydroxyproline content was also significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control groups (P 0.05). Histologic examination confirmed that nifedipine treatment significantly increased collagen deposition and fibroblast ingrowth compared with controls (P 0.05).Conclusions These results clearly showed that nifedipine enhanced the stability of colonic anastomoses during the first postoperative week.