Inability of University of Wisconsin solution to reduce postoperative peritoneal adhesions in rats

Objective: To examine the effect of University of Wisconsin solution (UWS) on the formation of postoperative peritoneal adhesions. Design: Laboratory experiment. Setting: University hospital, Italy. Animals: 42 Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions: A standard lesion was made consisting of serosal trauma of t he caecum and a parietal peritoneal defect. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 6 each): the first group acted as controls; the second h ad instilled normal saline 6 ml; the third Ringer's lactate 6 ml, the fourt h UWS 6 ml; the fifth normal saline 12 ml; the sixth Ringer's lactate 12 ml ; and the seventh UWS 12 ml. Main outcome measures: Adhesions were scored two weeks later for extent (0 to 4) and type (0 to 4). Adhesion strength was measured by a tensiometer. Results: The mean (SEM) scores for extent and type of adhesions were signif icantly lower (p < 0.05) after instillation of Ringer's lactate 12 ml [1.0 (0.4) and 1.2 (0.4), respectively] than controls [3.5 (0.3) and 2.7 (0.2), respectively]. Adhesions were also significantly weaken (p < 0.05) [101 (33 ) g] than in controls [207 (6) g]. Conclusions: Intraperitoneal instillation of normal saline and UWS were ine ffective in reducing the extent and type of adhesions. Although Ringer's la ctate produced a significant reduction in severity, the effect was strongly volume related. This amount of fluid may be detrimental to a patient's pos toperative course.