Natural history of extensive diaphragmatic injury on the right side: experimental study in rats

• Published in: Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões 2014-08, Vol.41 (4), p.267-271
• Main Authors: Rivaben, Jorge Henrique, Saad Junior, Roberto, Dorgan Neto, Vicente, Botter, Marcio, Gonçalves, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cicatrização de Feridas; Diafragma; Diafragma/lesões; Experimentação Animal
• ISSN: 0100-6991; 1809-4546; 0100-6991
• DOI: 10.1590/0100-69912014004008

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the natural healing of the rat diaphragm that suffered an extensive right penetrating injury.METHODS: Animals were submitted to an extensive penetrating injury in right diaphragm. The sample consisted of 40 animals. The variables studied were initial weight, weight 21 days after surgery; healing of the diaphragm, non-healing of the diaphragm, and herniated abdominal contents into the chest.RESULTS: Ten animals were used as controls for weight and 30 animals were operated. Two animals died during the experiment, so 28 animals formed the operated group; healing of the diaphragm occurred in 15 animals (54%), 11 other animals showed diaphragmatic hernia (39%) and in two we observed only diaphragmatic injury without hernia (7%). Among the herniated organs, the liver was found in 100% of animals, followed by the omentum in 77%, small bowel in 62%, colon in 46%, stomach in 31% and spleen in 15%. The control group and the diaphragmatic healing subgroup showed increased weight since the beginning of the study and the 21 days after surgery (p