Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on the healing of intestinal sutures in rats. METHODS: Forty rats were distributed into four groups. Two groups were treated with a standard diet and considered nourished (I and II). Two other groups were treated with cornmeal and considered malnourished (III and IV). All animals underwent cecotomy and cecorrhaphy. Groups II and IV had sutures overlapped with human PRF membrane. The following parameters were evaluated: animal weight, death, rupture site, rupture pressure, collagen, and reticulin dosage in the suture line. RESULTS: The use of PRF did not influence deaths, rupture pressure or rupture location. For malnourished animals, a significant difference was observed in relation to the rupture site, corresponding to the suture line (p = 0.038) and reticulin dosage (p = 0.040), when PRF was used. There was no difference in relation to burst pressures. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PRF did not influence intestinal healing in nourished rats. In the group of malnourished animals, its use favored healing.