Evaluation of wound healing after colon anastomosis in morphine and methylphenidate addicted rats

Abstract

There is limited data on how wound healing is affected in people with substance use disorders, who are more likely to experience trauma or require surgery for other reasons. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of morphine and amphetamine-derived methylphenidate dependence on wound healing in the anastomosis line and the anterior abdominal wall following colon anastomosis. Methods: A total of 24 rats were used in the study, including control, morphine, and methylphenidate groups, with eight rats in each group. In the study, 10 mg/kg morphine was administered subcutaneously twice daily for seven days, and 20 mg/kg methylphenidate was administered intraperitoneally for seven days to induce addiction. Then, all groups underwent anastomosis following sigmoid colon full-thickness transection, after which the abdomen was closed. On the seventh day after surgery, wound healing in the anastomosis line and the abdominal wall was evaluated using anastomosis burst pressure measurement, hydroxyproline levels, and histopathological examinations of samples taken from the anastomosis line and the anterior abdominal wall. Results: The study found that anastomosis burst pressure was significantly lower in the morphine group. No epithelialisation was observed on the anastomosis line in the morphine or methylphenidate groups. The formation of connective tissue was found to increase significantly in the methylphenidate group on the anastomosis line. Conclusion: With these findings, these findings suggest that the risk of anastomosis leakage, especially in the early period, in cases of morphine and methylphenidate addiction.