The relationship of intestinal adhesions to infrared heating lamp exposure

The incidence of postoperative intestinal adhesions and microscopic intestinal injury resulting from the use of overhead infrared heating lamps was studied in 45 rabbits. Exposure of intestine to infrared light for 2 hr or longer at a distance of 1-1/2 ft produced adhesions in 87% of the rabbits, whereas exposure to heat under the same conditions but at a distance of 3 ft resulted in adhesions in 37% of rabbits. The incidence and severity of adhesions correlated directly with the period of intestinal exposure to infrared heat. No histologic evidence of intestinal injury was apparent in intestine exposed to infrared heat under the conditions of this study.