Parecoxib's effects on anastomotic and abdominal wound healing: a randomized Controlled trial

Current evidence regarding the effects of selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors on gastrointestinal anastomoses is controversial. An experimental randomized control study was conducted in our institution to histopathologically evaluate the consequences of parecoxib, on intestinal and abdominal wound healing.

Twenty-four adult Wistar rats underwent laparotomy, ascending colon transection, and hand-sewn anastomosis. They were randomized to receive either parecoxib (0.5 mg/kg twice daily) or 0.9% normal saline by intraperitoneal injection postoperatively. Animals were euthanatized either on the third or the seventh postoperative day. Semiquantitative methods were used to evaluate both intestinal and abdominal wounds for inflammatory cell composition, angiogenesis, fibroblasts, granular tissue, collagen deposition, epithelization, and presence of necrosis, exudate, and abscess formation. Results are presented as (parecoxib: median [IQR] versus control: median [IQR], P-value).

No macroscopic anastomotic leakage or wound dehiscence was observed. Intestinal anastomoses in the parecoxib group, showed significantly decreased epithelization (2 [1] versus 3 [1], [P = 0.004]) and collagen deposition (2 [0] versus 3 [1], [P = 0.041]). No difference was observed in angiogenesis (3 [1] versus 2.5 [1], [P = 0.158]). Abdominal wall specimens appeared to demonstrate decreased epithelization (2 [2] versus 4 [0.5], [P = 0.0004]) in the treatment group. No difference between the two groups was identified regarding collagen deposition (2.5 [1] versus 2 [0.5], [P = 0.280]) and angiogenesis (2.5 [1] versus 2 [1], [P = 0.633]). Necrosis was significantly more present in the parecoxib group in both specimen types, (3.5 [1] versus 2.5 [1], [P = 0.017]) and (3 [1] versus 1 [0.5], [P < 0.0001]).

The present study shows that despite the absence of clinical adverse effects, parecoxib can impair anastomotic and abdominal wound healing on a histopathological level.