title: Early post-operative 5-fluorouracil does not affect the healing of experimental intestinal anastomoses.
abstract: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) remains the mainstay for systemic treatment of colorectal cancer. In view of the increasing interest in peri-operative administration of antineoplastic agents, we have investigated the effects of early postoperative 5-FU on the healing of intestinal anastomoses in the rat. Animals underwent resection and anastomosis of both ileum and colon and 5-FU (20 mg/kg body weight) was given, either intravenously or intraperitoneally, on the day of surgery and the two subsequent days. Healing was assessed three and seven days after operation. Administration of 5-FU led to a reduced white blood cell count. However, anastomotic strength was not significantly reduced at either time point and anastomotic hydroxyproline content was not significantly affected. We suggest that limited use of 5-FU during or immediately after operation does not necessarily affect early anastomotic healing in the intestine.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital, St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: de Waard
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wobbes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hendriks
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000737:chemistry / Q000601:surgery*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006909:Hydroxyproline; D005472:Fluorouracil