The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of neostigmine as a final anaesthetic manoeuvre on colonic anastomoses. A colonic anastomosis was constructed in 40 Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into two groups: (1) rats receiving intravenous saline solution (placebo); and (2) rats receiving an intravenous injection of neostigmine. The size of the caecum, and the diameters of the pre-anastomotic and post-anastomotic colon were measured during the operation and 4 days after surgery, when all the animals were sacrificed. At this time, the presence of adhesions was also investigated. Each segment containing an anastomosis was removed, and the bursting pressure and bursting wall tension were determined. Loss of caecum diameter was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1 (P=0.03). Dilatation and obstruction of the colon were significantly more frequent in group 1 (dilatation, P=0.01; obstruction, P=0.047). Also, consumption of water by group 2 was greater than that by group 1 (P=0.049). No statistically significant differences were found between the diameters of the colon (pre- and post-anastomosis), or with respect to general adhesions and adhesions to the anastomotic line. No significant differences were found between anastomotic resistance (determined in terms of bursting pressure and bursting wall tension) in the two groups. The inclusion of neostigmine in an anaesthetic protocol under experimental setting did not reduce the resistance of colonic anastomoses and did not compromise normal healing. Moreover, obstruction caused by peristaltic weakness might be prevented by the expulsion of stool that is induced by the strong contraction of the colonic smooth muscle.