title: Preincisional intravenous pentoxifylline attenuating perioperative cytokine response, reducing morphine consumption, and improving recovery of bowel function in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.
abstract: Cytokine release during surgery can produce a long-lasting hyperalgesia. Thus, preoperatively-administered cytokine inhibitors might reduce the production of cytokines, decreasing central nervous system sensitization and improving the quality of postoperative pain relief. We investigated the hypothesis that preincisional IV pentoxifylline (PTX) treatment could attenuate the release of proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8) and antiinflammatory (IL-1 receptor antagonist) cytokines in patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer surgery. Forty patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups of 20 each: the PTX group received a PTX 5 mg/kg IV infusion before the induction of anesthesia, whereas the control group received an equal volume of normal saline. Venous blood samples were obtained at frequent intervals. After surgery, all patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine for postoperative pain relief. Patients in the PTX group exhibited longer PCA trigger times, less morphine consumption, and a faster return of bowel function compared with patients in the control group. Moreover, the plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1 receptor antagonist were less in the treatment group, and there was no significant difference in wound infections, tumor recurrence, or metastatic rates between groups during a 2-yr follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Anesthesiology and †Colon and Rectal Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center, National Defense University, Taipei, Taiwan; and ‡Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Chueng-He
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Pei-Chieh
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Cecil O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chun-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chih-Shung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ching-Tang
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D016207:Cytokines; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D009020:Morphine; D010431:Pentoxifylline