Total colectomy and massive small bowel resection in rats.

Ileo- or jejuno-endorectal pull-through following total colectomy (TC) and massive small bowel resection (SBR) was performed in the rat to investigate the natural course of its condition. Animals were assigned to five experimental groups: TC only (n = 6), TC + 25% SBR (n = 6), TC + 50% SBR (n = 6), TC + 75% SBR (n = 6), and sham operation (SH) (n = 6). Survival at 28 days was 100% in groups TC and SH, while all rats receiving both TC and massive SBR eventually died within 14 days. Their number of survival days were 10.5 +/- 0.76 in group TC + 25% SBR*, 9.5 +/- 0.56 in group TC + 50% SBR*, and 5.8 +/- 0.48 in group TC + 75% SBR (*p less than 0.001 vs. group TC + 75% SBR). Changes in % of initial body weight revealed that the rats who received both TC and massive SBR showed a tremendous decrease of weight in the ensuing postoperative days and its degree was attributable to the extent of SBR. Our data support the clinical trials to preserve the aganglionic terminal ileum for the surgical treatment of extensive aganglionosis.