A comparison of the CO2 laser and electrocautery on postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation in rabbits

The effect of the CO2 laser and microelectrocautery on postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions was examined in 31 female rabbits. Standard injuries were performed and/or repaired with each technique on the uterine peritoneum, the right uterine horn, and the left ovary. The animals were sacrificed 5 weeks later, and the adhesions were graded at each site. No significant differences were found between the two techniques for each site or all sites collectively (P greater than 0.05). The ovary had more extensive adhesions than the other soft tissue site (P less than 0.01) with both techniques. The present study suggests that there is no apparent difference between CO2 laser and conventional microelectrocautery on adhesion formation, and that the ovary seems particularly prone to adhesion formation with either technique.