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.