Prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesions: an experimental study

ABSTRACT

For this study, 36 rats were divided into 6 equal groups. In the control group, a midline abdominal incision was performed and the intestines roughly maniplulated by gloves, heavily dusted with tale powder. In group [II] the operator's gloves were thoroughly washed in sterile to remove the talc powder. In group [III] peritoneal lavage was done using sterile physiological saline. In group [IV] prednisolone tertiary butyl acetate suspension 5 mg/kg body weight diluted in saline 10 ml/Kg body weight was applied intraperitoneally. In group [v] intraperitoneal dexamethasone phosphate 1 mg/kg body weight diluted in saline 10 ml/kg body weight was used. In group [VI] prednisolone oily solution 5 mg/kg body weight was given intramuscularly during the operation. Three rats of ach group were sacrificed at the end of one week and the other 3 at 4 weeks. The presence and degree of peritoneal adhesions and granulomas were recorded. The results of this study suggest that in addition to thorough washing of the operator's gloved hands by sterile water or saline before laparotomy and the preoperative use of peritoneal lavage with saline, steroids applied intraperitoneally in solution or suspension form may have a role in the prevetion of peritoneal adhesions