Pharmacological interventions for improved colonic anastomotic healing: A meta-analysis

Figure 1 Flow diagram of the studies that were identified and selected.

Figure 2 Forest plots of the bursting pressure in mmHg. The results of the meta-analysis for A: Iloprost at days 3-5 (cf. Table 1); B: Tacrolimus (cf. Table 1); C: Erythropoietin (EPO) at days 5-7 (cf. Table 2); D: Growth hormone (GH) at day 4 (cf. Table 2); E: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) at days 4-7 (cf. Table 2); F: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) at days 4-7 (cf. Table 3); G: Broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPi) at days 3-4 (cf. Table 4).

Figure 3 Effects of broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors on anastomotic breaking strength (A) and morphology (B) on postoperative day 3. A: Forest plot of the results of the meta-analysis in N (cf. Table 4); B: Diminution of the gap between the two large bowel ends (indicated by double-headed arrows) after treatment with the broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPi) GM6001 (left image) compared with the vehicle treatment (right image). The photomicrographs are representative of the overall significant (P < 0.05) effect of GM6001 (median: 320 μm) compared with the vehicle (median: 900 μm)[8].