The effect of intraperitoneal catalase on prevention of peritoneal adhesion formation in rats

The objective of our study was to investigate the efficacy of catalase in preventing the formation of peritoneal adhesions induced by cecal serosal laceration in rats. A research study was set up using a randomized complete block design. This study was performed in the Experimental Surgical Research Center, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Thirty Wistar albino rats were assigned to 3 groups of 10 animals each. The animals were anesthetized, a median laparotomy was performed, and the cecum was traumatized. In the final stages of surgery, the first group received 30,000 U of catalase intraperitoneally (ip) (catalase group), the second group received 2 mL of saline solution ip (isotonic group), and the last group received no treatment (control group). All rats were sacrificed on day 14. Adhesions were counted and blood samples were taken for measuring the catalase level. There were significant differences between the adhesion scores among all groups (p < .05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The catalase group had significantly lower adhesion scores than the other groups (post hoc Mann-Whitney test). At day 14, blood catalase levels in the catalase group were significantly lower than in the other groups (p < .05). We conclude that introduction of catalase into the peritoneal cavity during surgery inhibited adhesion formation.