EFFECT OF OCTREOTIDE ON POSTOPERATIVE INTRAPERITONEAL ADHESIONS IN RATS

Background: Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue that fan i nhibit glycosaminoglycan synthesis by fibroblasts in skin, may be a po tent inhibitor of postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions. An animal m odel was developed to evaluate the effect of octreotide, Methods: Twen ty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Laparotomy wit h a 15-cm intestinal resection and reanastomosis was performed on each group of rats. The intestinal serosa was also scratched to induce adh esion formation. No medication was given to group-1 mts (C). Group-2 r ats received peritoneal irrigation with 6 ml normal saline intraoperat ively (NS). Group-3 rats received irrigation with 6 mi octreotide solu tion (5 mu g/ml) intraperitoneally (Oc). Group-4 rats received irrigat ion with 6 ml octreotide solution intraoperatively and 10 mu g/kg of o ctreotide injection intramuscularly twice a day for 14 days (Oc + IM). All rats were killed 2 weeks later. The number of fibrous bands at an d away from the anastomotic site was recorded. The strength and extent of the fibrous bands were also measured. Results: The total scores of intraperitoneal adhesion bands were significantly reduced in group Oc and group Oc + IM rats when compared with group C (p < 0.05). When th e fibrous bands at the anastomotic site and away from it were distingu ished, the results were the same. As to the strength and extent of int estinal adhesions, the data showed no significant difference among all four groups. Conclusions: These data supported the suggestion that oc treotide can reduce the incidence of postoperative intraperitoneal adh esions in rats.