The effects of platelet-rich-plasma gel application to the colonic anastomosis in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: An experimental rat model

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has cytotoxic effects on tumour cells but also negative impacts on anastomotic healing. Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) is used for wound care but data about effects on gastrointestinal anastomosis are limited. In this experimental study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PRP application on colon anastomosis in rats those received HIPEC with cisplatin. Five rats were sacrificed to obtain PRP gel. Thirty rats were divided into three groups; Group 1: control group, Group 2: colon anastomosis and HIPEC with cisplatin, and Group 3: colon anastomosis enhanced by PRP and HIPEC with cisplatin. The rats were re-operated on postoperative day seven and anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP) was recorded. Also, tissue samples were taken for hydroxyproline assessment and histopathological examination. There were significant differences in ABP between Groups 2 and 3, and also those groups had lower ABP compared with the control group. Group 3 had significantly higher hydroxyproline levels and had better histopathological findings than group 2. According to our findings, we suggest that PRP application improves the anastomotic healing by increasing anastomotic bursting pressure, hydroxyproline levels, and decreasing inflammatory response. Further clinical studies are needed to prove our hypothesis.