Adaptive Changes of Bowel in Rats with Various Length of Thiry-Vella Fistulas

Purpose: The aim of the current experimental study was to determine interaction between functional and dysfunctional bowel segments in terms of structural changes in the gut mucosa. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two male rats were divided into four groups in which following operations were performed respectively: Group 1; sham operation, Group 2; 5% Thiry-Vella fistula, Group 3; 80% Thiry-Vella fistula, and Group 4; 5% Thiry-Vella fistula plus 75% bowel resection. At the end of the 14 days, ileum in continuity and Thiry-Vella fistula samples were examined histologically. Results: Mucosal thickness in ileal samples in continuity were 605±24 µ, 615±14 µ, 731±16 µ, 860±44 µ, in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Group 3 and Group 4 were significantly different from other groups (p 0.05). Mucosal thickness in Thiry-Vella fistula samples were 335±5.4 µ, 425±7.7 µ, 528±42 µ in Group 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Each group was significantly different from eachother (p 0.05). Conclusion: While intestinal adaptive changes related to SBS in continuity were not occurred apparently in Group 3, ileal mucosal thickness increased significantly in Group 4. Long segment Thiry-Vella fistula might have decreased adaptation in functional bowel probably by consuming of systemic factors.