EXOGENOUS PHOSPHOLIPID REDUCES POSTOPERATIVE PERITONEAL ADHESIONS IN RATS

Objective: To find out if the previously described ability of phosphat idylcholine to reduce peritoneal adhesions is specific to it, or if ot her phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) or DL-phosphatidyl choline dilauryl (DL-PC) have similar effects. Design: Laboratory expe riment. Setting: University hospital, Sweden. Materials: 160 rats whic h had had intraperitoneal adhesions induced at laparotomy by peritonea l defects repaired in one of two models. Interventions: PI was given i ntraperitoneally either once in a dose of 20 or 40 mg/rat at the end o f the operation, or at the end of the operation and repeated on the se cond and third postoperative days. DL-PC was given once at the end of the operation in a dose of either 20 or 40 mg/rat. Main outcome measur es: Adhesions were assessed a week after operation by an observer who was unaware of the treatment given. Results: PI given on three consecu tive days significantly reduced adhesions formed postoperatively in bo th models (p < 0.05). Neither PI nor DL-PC given in a single dose of 2 0 mg/rat had any effect, whereas both PI and DL-PC given in single dos es of 40 mg/rat significantly reduced adhesions (p < 0.05). Conclusion : Both PI and DL-PC are effective in the prevention and limiting of po stoperative adhesions in rats.