Wound healing enhancement of colonic anastomoses after endoscopic irradiation with low-power He-Ne laser: an experimental study after mechanical obstruction

We have tested the strength and collagen concentration of high-risk anastomoses of the rat colon after endoscopic irradiation by He-Ne laser. Repeated He-Ne laser irradiation (1.9 J/cm2) increases the bursting strength of the anastomoses by almost 100% on the fourth postoperative day. This effect is not observed by increasing the radiation dose (6.4 J/cm2). Differences in collagen (hydroxyproline) concentration did not reach statistical significance. Our study suggests that repeated endoscopic irradiation with He-Ne laser enhances the early phases of anastomotic healing in high risk colonic anastomoses.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.