Effect of electromagnetic fields and early postoperative 5-fluorouracil on the healing of colonic anastomoses.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have indicated a deleterious effect of perioperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration on the healing of intestinal anastomoses. This study examined the effect of early postoperative 5-FU on the healing of colonic anastomoses and investigated the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on colonic anastomotic repair under normal physiological conditions and in the presence of 5-FU therapy in a rat model.


METHODS
Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups and underwent a standardized left colonic resection and anastomoses. The animals then served as control or received intraperitoneal 5-FU (20 mg/kg per day, 5 days), EMF stimulation (10.76 mT, 50 Hz; 2-h on/10-h off cycles, 7 days) or both, starting on the day of surgery. After 7 days anastomotic healing was assessed by measurement of hydroxyproline content and breaking strength.


RESULTS
Hydroxyproline content increased in EMF exposed group (1.53+/-0.11 to 1.92+/-0.11 microg/mg) and in EMF + 5-FU group (1.53+/-0.11 to 1.89+/-0.12 microg/mg). Breaking strength also increased in the EMF group (0.23+/-0.02 to 0.27+/-0.01 MPa) and in the EMF + 5-FU group (0.23+/-0.02 to 0.28+/-0.01 MPa. No differences were found in hydroxyproline content or breaking strength between the 5-FU group and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Early postoperative 5-FU administration did not impair the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats. Additionally, EMF stimulation provided a significant gain in colonic anastomotic strength, in rat intestines in control animals and in animals exposed to 5-FU.
Nayci
Ali
A
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mersin University Medical Faculty, Mersin, Turkey. anayci@mersin.edu.tr
Cakmak
Murat
M
Renda
Nurten
N
Aksoyek
Selim
S
Yucesan
Selcuk
S
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D006909:Hydroxyproline; D005472:Fluorouracil