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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Creation of Abdominal Adhesions in Mice
Published on: August 27, 2016
Inability of University of Wisconsin solution to reduce postoperative peritoneal adhesions in rats
N Cavallari1, A Polistena, A Cavallaro
1First Department of Surgery, Laboratorio del Castro Laurenziano, La Sapienza University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Objective:
To examine the effect of University of Wisconsin solution (UWS) on the formation of postoperative peritoneal adhesions.
Design:
Laboratory experiment.
Setting:
University hospital, Italy.
Animals:
42 Sprague-Dawley rats.
Interventions:
A standard lesion was made consisting of serosal trauma of the caecum and a parietal peritoneal defect. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 6 each): the first group acted as controls; the second had instilled normal saline 6 ml; the third Ringer's lactate 6 ml; the fourth UWS 6 ml; the fifth normal saline 12 ml; the sixth Ringer's lactate 12 ml; and the seventh UWS 12 ml.
Main Outcome Measures:
Adhesions were scored two weeks later for extent (0 to 4) and type (0 to 4). Adhesion strength was measured by a tensiometer.
Results:
The mean (SEM) scores for extent and type of adhesions were significantly lower (p < 0.05) after instillation of Ringer's lactate 12 ml [1.0 (0.4) and 1.2 (0.4), respectively] than controls [3.5 (0.3) and 2.7 (0.2), respectively]. Adhesions were also significantly weaken (p < 0.05) [101 (33) g] than in controls [207 (6) g].
Conclusions:
Intraperitoneal instillation of normal saline and UWS were ineffective in reducing the extent and type of adhesions. Although Ringer's lactate produced a significant reduction in severity, the effect was strongly volume related. This amount of fluid may be detrimental to a patient's postoperative course.
