Healing of experimental colonic anastomoses: effect of antineoplastic agents.

The effect of a combination of antineoplastic agents (bleomycin (2 mg/kg/d), 5-fluorouracil (10 mg/kg/d) and cisdiamminedichloroplatinum (0.35 mg/kg/d)), given intravenously, on the healing of colonic anastomoses was investigated in rats. Ninety-six male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. A control group of rats underwent surgery only. The remaining rats were operated either 2 days before, 2 days after or during the 5-day chemotherapy course. In all groups rats were killed after 3, 7 and 21 days. Wound healing of the anastomosis was assessed by measuring the bursting pressures and hydroxyproline contents. Operating in the middle of the 5-day chemotherapy course had the greatest effect on anastomotic healing. This was most apparent on the seventh day postoperatively. When surgery was performed on the second day after the chemotherapy course there was an early delay in wound healing as measured by hydroxyproline content. Seven days postoperatively concentrations were in the same range as those in the control group. Chemotherapy commencing 2 days after surgery did not affect anastomotic healing as compared to the control group. Bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content at the end of the experiment were more or less comparable in all groups.