PURPOSE: The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate the effects of iloprost on colonic anastomotic healing in rats, after intraperitoneal administration.METHODS: Forty male Albino-Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of twenty animals each. They all underwent colonic resection followed by an inverted anastomosis. The rats of Group A (control) received 3 ml of NaCl intraperitoneally, while those of Group B (iloprost) received iloprost (2 μg/kg body weight), immediately postoperatively and daily until killed. Each group was further divided into two equal subgroups, depending on the day of killing. The animals of subgroups 1 were killed on the fourth postoperative day, while those of subgroups 2 on the eighth. Macroscopical and histological assessments were performed. Besides, anastomotic bursting pressures and the tissue concentrations in hydroxyproline and collagenase I were also evaluated.RESULTS: No anastomotic dehiscence was noted. The mean bursting pressure was higher in the iloprost group compared with the control group, but a significant difference was revealed only on the fourth postoperative day. Furthermore, iloprost significantly increased the new vessel formation on the fourth, as well as on the eighth postoperative day.CONCLUSION: Iloprost enhances the early phase of colonic anastomotic healing in rats.