High-dose preoperative radiotherapy does not alter the strength of unilaterally irradiated colon anastomoses in rats

Healing of experimental colonic anastomoses: Effects of combined preoperative high‐dose radiotherapy and intraperitoneal 5‐fluorouracil

“…Previously, we found that preoperative hyperfractionated irradiation could be delivered up to a cumulative dose of 80.0 Gy in rats without influencing the strength of colonic anastomoses, only if these anastomoses were constructed from one irradiated and one nonirradiated colonic segment [12].…”

“…The caecum colon was translocated to the hepatic area and the rectosigmoid colon to the left lower quadrant, where they were fixed to the staples with a single serosal stitch (4/0 prolene), as previously described [12].…”

“…The rectosigmoid colon was always irradiated via one posterior portal using 5 MV photons of an Elekta (Crawley, UK) linear accelerator. In a previous experiment, we validated and used the same irradiation technique [12].…”

“…The diameter of the anastomosis was measured indirectly during the bursting experiment by two sliding bars easily pushed apart by the inflating segment; this was defined as the bursting diameter. We used the same technique previously [12]. Bursting wall tension (BWT) in a circular direction was calculated according to Koruda and Rollandelli [19].…”

“…Previously, we found that preoperative hyperfractionated RT with a total dose of 41.6 Gy did not affect the strength of colonic anastomosis in rats provided that one limb only of the anastomosis was irradiated [12]. Several studies, clinical and experimental, have reported histological changes in the small intestine and colon after RT [13][14][15][16].…”