Use of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in colorectal surgery.

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effects and safety of administering perioperative recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (r-metHuG-CSF, Filgrastim; Roche, Switzerland) to patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Thirty consecutive patients were prospectively randomized to receive either r-metHuG-CSF or placebo. Treatment with r-metHuG-CSF induced transient leukocytosis with shift to the left. The phagocytic or killing capacities of neutrophils were not altered in the patients treated with r-metHuG-CSF, but there was a decline in neutrophil chemotaxis. There were no serious adverse events associated with r-metHuG-CSF treatment. Thus, perioperative r-metHuG-CSF is safe for patients undergoing colorectal surgery. The presence of an increased number of functioning neutrophils may offer advantages in combating imminent infection.

Effect of intravenous feeding on wound healing in starvation: an experimental study on the rabbit.

The effects of modified protein sparing therapy (PSP) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on total and wound metabolism were studied for 96 hours after laparotomy and a small gastric excision in 40 rabbits starved for seven days. A further eight starved and eight non-starved animals served as controls for the blood variables. Normal healing up to day 14 was studied in 20 non-starved animals. The difference in deaths and animals in poor condition, 42.1 per cent in PSP and 18.6 per cent in TPN, respectively, was clear but statistically non-significant. PSP led to a lower mean serum albumin concentration than TPN, 25.7 +/- 3.7 (SD) and 28.7 +/- 3.0 (p = 0.02), respectively. The animals receiving PSP excreted significantly more 3-methylhistidine. TPN maintained a positive nitrogen balance, but PSP produced a negative one. The collagen content of the skin scar was lower after PSP (3.1 +/- 0.7 mg) than after TPN (4.5 +/- 1.3 mg) (p less than 0.05), the latter coming close to the level for normal 4-day healing, 4.5 +/- 1.2 mg. Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PPH) activity showed no difference. No inter-group differences in collagen were found in the stomach. Both regimens totally reversed the starvation-induced decrease in PPH activity in the stomach, but only partially in skin. Thus TPN produced better total and skin wound metabolism after laparotomy and starvation than did PSP. No differences in visceral wound healing were observed.

Abdominal operations for intraabdominal metastases from extraabdominal primary tumors.

Forty consecutive patients with an extraabdominal primary tumor, later treated surgically for intraabdominal problems, were investigated. The most common causes of abdominal operations were intestinal obstruction (N = 17), intraabdominal tumor mass (N = 8), and intraabdominal hemorrhage (N = 5). The overall postoperative mortality was 25%, morbidity 48%, median survival 3 months, and cumulative 5 year survival 3%. The mortality after emergency procedures, 67%, was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than after elective operations, 18%. Conditions requiring enterostomy (N = 14) were associated with a mortality of 36%, whereas the figures in resected (N = 13) and bypassed (N = 7) patients were 14% and 17%, respectively. Wound infection (N = 5) and pulmonary infection (N = 5) were the most common complications, and pulmonary infection was fatal in three of the five cases. Of the patients, 22 (55%) were discharged from hospital to their home; ten (25%) of them had postoperatively a 3 month relief of cancer symptoms and four (10%) a 6 month relief. Nine patients (25%) have survived for over 1 year and one (3%) for over 5 years. It is concluded that abdominal procedures seldom prevent further cancer growth within these patients and that symptoms are relieved only in one in every four patients. According to strict criteria, these operations are useful and can add to patient comfort.

Sutureless colon anastomosis with fibrin glue in the rat.

The only technique available for creating an intestinal anastomosis without tissue strangulation is gluing. Theoretically, this could lead to a higher hydroxyproline content and greater mechanical strength than in a sutured anastomosis. To test the hypothesis, 83 rats underwent left colon resection and inverted primary anastomosis with either one layer of sutures (NG group) or fibrin glue (FG group). Seven-day FG anastomoses showed less adhesions (P = .02) but one subclinical leakage and a further radiologic one, compared with a greater amount of adhesions but no leakages in the NG group. The mean bursting pressures (mmHg) in the FG and NG groups, respectively, were 25 +/- 20 (SD) and 63 +/- 23 (N.S.) 30 minutes after surgery, 107 +/- 33 and 115 +/- 30 after one day, 81 +/- 31 and 133 +/- 26 (P less than .001) after four days, and 161 +/- 36 and 175 +/- 24 after seven days. The somewhat earlier rise in hydroxyproline content in the glued anastomoses did not lead to significant intergroup differences. The glued anastomoses were thus weak during the critical lag period of healing. Also, by preventing adhesion formation, the glue may reduce the extra blood supply from perianastomotic vessels. The outcomes might have differed more under demanding experimental or clinical situations.

Fibrin glue protection of primary anastomosis in the obstructed left colon. An experimental study on the rat.

A left-sided colon obstruction was produced with a polypropylene sling in 65 rats. Colon resection and primary anastomosis were performed three days later. The animals were then randomly allocated to the FG (fibrin glue) group receiving sealing of the anastomosis with 0.4 ml of fibrin glue (Beriplast R), or to the NG (non-glue) group. The anastomoses were assessed 30 min, two days and four days later. Adhesion formation was similar in both groups. The number of macroscopic or radiological leakages did not differ either. At 30 min the mean bursting pressure was 74.6 +/- 8.6 (SD) mmHg in the FG group and 58.3 +/- 21.6 mmHg in NG (non-glue) group (p less than 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). Later on the strength of the anastomoses was equal in both groups. We conclude that the initial sealing of weak points in the anastomoses was beneficial but the inherent strength per se could not be enhanced.

The Hartmann procedure for the treatment of colorectal emergencies.

A total of 80 patients with colorectal emergencies were treated by the Hartmann procedure at the Oulu University Central Hospital during the years 1973-1984. The median age of the patients was 65 (18-81) years. The operative indications were: diverticular disease (n = 26), cancer (n = 21), stercoraceous perforation (n = 9), vascular accident (n = 5), radiation damage (n = 4) and miscellaneous (n = 11). 13 patients (16.3%) died after a median of 8 (1-33) days, mostly due to organ failure. 44 of the surviving 67 patients (65.7%) had postoperative complications. Intestinal continuity was restored in 34 patients (42.5%) after a median of 139 (65-794) days. Two patients (5.6%) died after the reconstruction. The permanency of the stoma in half of the surviving patients and the technical difficulties encountered in stoma closure are disadvantages attached to the Hartmann procedure which are sufficiently serious that alternative operative methods should always be considered.