The mouse as a model to study adhesion formation following endoscopic surgery: a preliminary report

Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of a mouse model to study adhesi on formation following endoscopic surgery. Following preliminary studies to establish anaesthesia and pneumoperitoneum pressure, a prospective randomi zed study was carried out to investigate the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on postoperative adhesions. In group I (control group), the duration of pn eumoperitoneum was shorter than 5 min, In groups II, III and IV, pneumoperi toneum was maintained for 60 min without how with a continuous low how (1 m l/min) and a continuous high flow (10 ml/min) through the abdominal cavitie s of the mice using non-humidified CO2, respectively. Adhesions were scored after 7 days by laparotomy. The total adhesion scores were 0.9 +/- 0.8 (n = 15) in control group, 2.4 +/- 0.8 (n = 15) (P < 0.001 versus control grou p) in group II with no flow, 2.6 +/- 1.3 (n = 15) (P < 0.001 versus control group) in group III with a continuous low flow and 4.3 +/- 0.9 (n = 15) (P < 0.001 versus control group and P < 0.001 versus group II and III) in gro up TV with a continuous high how In conclusion, the mouse can be used as a model to study adhesion formation following endoscopic surgery. Duration of CO2 pneumoperitoneum is a co-factor in adhesion formation.