Effects of transfusion on gastrointestinal anastomotic wound healing and leukocyte function in rats

Background: This study was done to investigate the effects of blood transfu sion on gastrointestinal anastomotic wound healing and leukocyte function.M ethods: Closed-colony male Wistar rats were divided into five groups in a g roup-mixed fashion and underwent laparotomy (the CONT and WB groups) or gas trectomy and gastroduodenostomy (the GAST, GAST/WB and GAST/LDRWB groups). Immediately, they received 3 ml of saline (the CONT and GAST groups) or blo od from Wistar donors (the WE and GAST/WB groups, whole blood; the GAST/LDR WB group, a transfusion of irradiated and leukocyte-depleted whole blood). The animals were killed 7 days after surgery. Results: The GAST/WB group ha d a higher incidence of anastomotic abscess, a lower level of factor XIII a nd a lower maximum breaking strength than the GAST group. Gastrectomy decre ased L-DCL (luminol-dependent chemiluminescence) more than whole-blood tran sfusion. In the GAST/WB group, L-DCL was severely reduced, while in the GAS T/LDRWB group it was roughly equivalent to the level in the GAST group. Con clusions: Whole-blood transfusion increased the incidence of anastomotic ab scess and impaired anastomotic wound healing, and these might relate to the reduction of L-DCL. Irradiated and leukocyte-depleted transfusion can impr ove these effects. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.