Immediate postoperative 5-FU does not decrease colonic anastomotic strength
✍ Scribed by Yazdi, G. Paul; Miedema, Brent W.; Humphrey, Loren
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1998
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 53 KB
- Volume
- 69
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-4790
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
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 ס 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.