Tetrachlorodecaoxide does not jeopardize anastomotic healing: an experimental study in animals.

Tetrachlorodecaoxide (TCDO) is a negatively-charged complex of chlorine and oxygen commonly used for the treatment of infected external wounds. However, it displays antiadhesive properties when applied intra-abdominally. In rats, small-bowel and a large-bowel anastomoses were performed and one-half of the animals received TCDO. It was found that TCDO did not alter the bursting pressures of small and large-bowel anastomoses at 1, 3 and 9 days postoperatively.