A comparison of the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil/triamcinolone, carnitine and dexamethasone therapy on wound healing in tracheal injury: potential for preventing tracheal stenosis?

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of 5-flourouracil/triamcinolone acetonide (5-FU/TA), carnitine and dexamethasone on wound healing in an animal model of tracheal injury. Twenty-eight rats underwent surgical injury of the tracheal mucosa and perichondrium under general anesthesia, and were randomized into four groups. Group I (the control group) received nothing after tracheal trauma. Group II received intratracheal 5 mg 5-FU/TA combined with 0.2 ml sodium hyaluronic acid once. Group III received intraperitoneal carnitine 100 mg/kg/day for 20 days. Group IV received intramuscular dexamethasone 0.1 mg/day for 20 days. After 1 month, the levels of superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (SOD) and levels of malondialdehide (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in serum were measured and the tracheal specimens were harvested for histopathologic examination. SOD was significantly lower in the carnitine group compared to the control group. A statistically significant decrease in MDA levels were observed in the 5-FU/TA and carnitine groups compared to the control group. NO levels were significantly lower in the 5-FU/TA group, but significantly higher in the dexamethasone group, compared to the control group. The fibrotic tissue volumes of tracheal specimens were significantly lower in both the 5-FU/TA and carnitine groups than those of the control group, but trended toward higher volumes in the dexamethasone group when compared to controls. We concluded that 5-FU/TA and carnitine diminish the occurrence of tracheal stenosis (TS) secondary to experimentally induced tracheal trauma.