Gastric and small bowel ileus after severe burn in rats: The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

Gastrointestinal (GI) ileus is a common complication after severe burns. Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2i) improved post-operative ileus, but its effect on burn-induced GI dysmotility is unknown. Our aim was to test whether a COX-2i improves gastric emptying (GE) and small bowel transit (SBT) after burn. Experiment on GE: rats were anesthetized and randomized into sham/scald burn, treated/untreated with COX-2i. Six hours after burn, rats received a phenol red meal and were sacrificed 30 min later. Gastric emptying was determined based on the percentage of phenol red recovered in harvested stomachs. Experiment on SBT: rats received a duodenostomy and were scald/sham burned 5 days later. Six hours after burn, rats received a phenol red meal through the duodenostomy catheter and were sacrificed 100 min later. Geometric center (GC) was calculated for SBT. GE was decreased significantly in burned vs. sham animals (p < 0.001). SBT was significantly impaired in burned vs. sham animals (p < 0.001). The COX-2i improved GE in the burn rats but not GE in the control rats or SBT in the burn rats. COX-2i improves burn-induced delayed GE, suggesting the mediation of the latter via the prostaglandin pathway.