SPLENECTOMY AND WOUND HEALING
CEMALETTİN ERTEKİN, ŞÜKRÜ DİLEGE, MEHMET KURTOĞLU, SEMA GENÇ, UĞUR ÇEVİKBAŞ
İstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Genel Cerrahi A.B.D., İstanbul
Abstract
Until recently, splenectomy was the only method of treatment of splenic rupture, which is one of the most common injuries after blunt trauma. However, complications after splenectomy and the proved fact that the splenic tissue can be sutured safely have led to spleen-preserving techniques. We studied experimentally the effect of splenectomy on wound healing. Hydroxyproline level has been selected as the main parameter because this aminoacid is unique to collagenous tissue. In addition to this measurement of tissue resistance histopathological studies have been performed. After evaluation of all parameters it has been found that splenectomy delays wound healing. Especialy in the late period, hydroxyproline content and tissue resistance was depressed significantly in comparison to controls (p<0.001).