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Immediate postoperative 5‐FU does not decrease colonic anastomotic strength
Author(s) -
Yazdi G. Paul,
Miedema Brent W.,
Humphrey Loren
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199811)69:3<125::aid-jso2>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - medicine , anastomosis , bursting , colorectal cancer , colectomy , surgery , anesthesia , gastroenterology , cancer , neuroscience , biology
Background and Objectives The use of continuous infusion 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU) immediately after surgery may improve the adjuvant treatment of resected colon cancer and is the subject of a national phase III trial (Intergroup no. 0136). The aim was to determine the effect of continuous infusion 5‐FU on the bursting pressure of a colon anastomosis. Methods Twenty Lewis rats weighing approximately 300 g were subject to sigmoid colectomy and single‐layer anastomosis. Ten rats received 5‐FU continuously at 600 mg/m 2 per day for 7 days; 10 rats served as controls. Ten days postoperatively, the rats were sacrificed and bursting pressure of the colon containing the anastomosis was determined. Results No anastomotic leaks or intra‐abdominal abscesses were identified. Burst pressure of the colon in controls (124 ± 13 mm Hg; mean ± SEM) was not significantly different from those animals receiving 5‐FU (115 ± 9, P > 0.05). The control rats gained weight (13 ± 7 g), which is significantly different from the rats receiving 5‐FU (‐19 ± 13, P = 0.04). Conclusions Continuous infusion 5‐FU postoperatively results in weight loss, but does not affect anastomotic bursting strength in rats. This evidence supports the safety of continuous infusion 5‐FU postoperatively in humans. J. Surg. Oncol. 1998;69:125–127. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.