Smoking, hypertension, and colonic anastomotic healing; a combined clinical and histopathological study.
BACKGROUND
Large bowel anastomotic breakdown occurs as a result of perianastomotic ischaemia. Preservation of the macroscopic arterial supply to the perianastomotic tissues is vital, but little is known about the influence of microvascular disease on anastomotic healing.


OBJECTIVE
To study the associations between risk factors for macrovascular disease, the presence of colonic microvascular disease, and the incidence of anastomotic dehiscence.


METHODS
147 consecutive colonic surgery patients.


METHODS
The prevalence of smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and ischaemic heart disease were established retrospectively from patient notes. These risk factors were correlated with histopathological assessment of resection margin vasculature and clinical follow up.


RESULTS
Smoking and hypertension were significantly associated with an increased incidence of anastomotic dehiscence and microvascular disease. Microvascular disease was positively correlated with an increased incidence of anastomotic dehiscence.


CONCLUSIONS
Microvascular disease predisposes to anastomotic breakdown. This effect may in part be due to vasospasm in the diseased vessels, which are hypersensitive to serotonin, a vasoactive amine known to be present in increased quantities in the serum of smokers, hypertensives, and after surgery. Treatment with serotonin antagonists in the perioperative period may be beneficial to anastomotic healing, helping to maintain microvascular flow.
Fawcett
A
A
Department of Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London.
Shembekar
M
M
Church
J S
JS
Vashisht
R
R
Springall
R G
RG
Nott
D M
DM
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology*; D014945:Wound Healing