Selective cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibition affects ileal but not colonic anastomotic healing in the early postoperative period.
BACKGROUND
Selective cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors are increasingly prescribed in the perioperative period. Recent recognition of a possible role for COX-2 in wound healing has raised concerns about the safety of their use in surgical practice. Therefore, the influence of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on early anastomotic healing was investigated.


METHODS
Celecoxib, in doses of 15, 50 or 200 mg per kg per day, was given daily from the day before operation onwards to male Wistar rats that received both ileal and colonic anastomoses. Anastomotic strength was assessed by measuring the breaking strength and bursting pressure on the third day after operation. A second group received a dose of 50 mg per kg per day and a colonic anastomosis only, and healing was assessed on the third and fifth day after surgery.


RESULTS
Expression of COX-2 protein was upregulated in the anastomotic area. Administration of celecoxib, at all doses tested, resulted in a significantly higher ileal dehiscence rate than in control rats (P = 0.002). In contrast, colonic anastomoses healed normally within the same animals. The latter was confirmed in rats with colonic anastomoses only.


CONCLUSIONS
In this model, administration of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib affected ileal but not colonic anastomotic healing in the early postoperative period.
de Hingh
I H J T
IH
Department of Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
van Goor
H
H
de Man
B M
BM
Lomme
R M L M
RM
Bleichrodt
R P
RP
Hendriks
T
T
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D000068579:Celecoxib; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D000068579:Celecoxib; D006909:Hydroxyproline