Effect of intravenous aprotinin (Trasylol) on the healing of experimental colonic anastomoses in the rabbit.

A randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of intravenously administered Trasylol on the healing of experimental colonic anastomoses in the rabbit has been performed. Before undergoing a standard left colonic resection and anastomosis, the animals received intravenous Trasylol (80,000 KIU). Postoperatively 160,000 KIU were given in divided doses per day for 3 days. Control animals received saline placebo. The mean bursting pressure of the anastomoses in the Trasylol-treated group was 47.7 +/- 3.0 mm Hg compared with 37.5 +/- 3.3 mm Hg for the control group (p less than 0.05). The mean difference in collagen content of the anastomosis compared to the resected specimen was +1.25 +/- 0.50 micrograms/mg and -1.02 +/- 0.47 microgram/mg for Trasylol and placebo, respectively (p less than 0.005). In this model intravenous Trasylol produces a significant elevation of the bursting pressure and a significant improvement in the collagen content of the anastomosis. This may be the result of collagenase inhibition.