Effects of ozone preconditioning on the healing of rat colonic anastomosis after preoperative radiotherapy

Introduction: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy for colorectal cancer could affect mechanical and biochemical parameters of anastomotic healing. The killing action of radiation is mainly mediated through the free radicals generated from the radiolytic decomposition of cellular water. Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of controlled administration of ozone on healing of anastomosis and activation of antioxidant enzymes in colon in radiotherapy received colonic anastomosis. Material and Methods: Rats (n=48) were randomly divided into 3 groups. Left colonic resection and anastomosis were performed in each group. Control groups (1 and 2); received no further treatment. Saline-treated Groups (3 and 4); 1 mg/kg/day saline was administered intraperitoneally for five consecutive day before irradiation. Ozone-treated Groups (5 and 6); rats received 1 mg/kg/day ozone therapy intraperitoneally for five consecutive day before irradiation. Then rats were exposed to whole-body IR (6 Gy) after pretreatment with either saline or ozone. Anastomosis was performed in groups on the 7th day after irradiation Results: The mean bursting pressure was significantly low in Group 3 and was significantly high in Group 6; 50.75 and 140.88 cm of water. In the groups in which ozone was given (Groups 5 and 6), the tissue HPO levels were higher than in the groups which were not given ozone (Groups 3 and 4). In all the groups in respect to the control group, inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in a more intense way. Conclusion: Ozone oxidative preconditioning has favorable effects on healing of experimental colon anastomosis.