• Stephen A Smith, Derek J Roberts, Mark E Lipson, W Donald Buie, and Anthony R MacLean.
• Department of Surgery, University of Calgary and the Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• Dis. Colon Rectum. 2016 Nov 1; 59 (11): 1087-1097.

BackgroundNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used analgesics in colorectal surgery. Controversy exists regarding the potential association between these drugs and anastomotic dehiscence.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine whether postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is associated with intestinal anastomotic dehiscence.Data SourcesPubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and references of included articles were searched without date or language restriction.Study SelectionRandomized controlled trials and observational studies that compared postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use with nonuse and reported on intestinal anastomotic dehiscence were selected.InterventionThe use of postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relative to placebo or nonuse was investigated.Main Outcome MeasuresRisk ratios and adjusted or unadjusted odds ratios for anastomotic dehiscence were pooled across randomized controlled trials and observational studies using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models.ResultsAmong 4395 citations identified, 6 randomized controlled trials (n = 473 patients) and 11 observational studies (n > 20,184 patients) were included. Pooled analyses revealed that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use was nonsignificantly associated with anastomotic dehiscence in randomized controlled trials (risk ratio, 1.96; 95% CI, 0.74-5.16; I = 0%) and significantly associated with anastomotic dehiscence in observational studies (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.14-1.86; I = 54%). In stratified analyses of observational study data, the pooled OR for anastomotic dehiscence was statistically significant for studies of nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (6 studies; > 4900 patients; OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.65-2.64; I = 0%), but was not statistically significant for studies of cyclooxygenase-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (3 studies; >697 patients; OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.78-2.31; I = 0%).LimitationsStudies varied by patient selection criteria, drug exposures, and definitions of anastomotic dehiscence. Analyses of randomized controlled trials and cyclooxygenase-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were potentially underpowered.ConclusionsPooled observational data suggest an association between postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and intestinal anastomotic dehiscence. Caution may be warranted in using these medications in patients at risk for this complication.

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