title: The prevention of post-operative adhesions using a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent.
abstract: Attempts have previously been made to reduce adhesion formation by promoting early intestinal motility. The prokinetic agent Cisapride was used in an animal model of end-to-end large bowel anastomoses. Twenty Wistar rats receiving Cisapride 1 mg/kg subcutaneously (sc) twice daily for two days post-operatively were compared with 20 controls receiving saline 0.2 mL in a similar regimen. The points of adhesion of the anastomosis to the following structures were enumerated: tubal fat; mesentery; omentum; caecum; small bowel; and abdominal wall. The treatment group had significantly fewer adhesions: 2.8 +/- 0.9 v 4.3 +/- 1.0. This was mainly in the number of small bowel attachments, 3.8% compared with 37.8%. The study was repeated using small bowel anastomoses. Cisapride again reduced the number of adhesions compared with controls: 2.1 +/- 0.4 v 4.2 +/- 1.4. Cisapride therapy resulted in greater post-operative stool weights and food consumption: control, 3.87 +/- 1.1 stool, 17.04 +/- 4.3 g food; Cisapride 4.43 +/- 0.9 g stool, 19.8 +/- 4.7 g food. The enhanced motility did not affect the anastomotic strength of the small bowel; bursting pressures at a constant inflation rate of 1.1 mL/min were: control 212.8 +/- 56.0 mmHg; Cisapride, 215.8 +/- 58.9 mmHg (NS).
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Institute of Child Health, London, England.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Springall
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spitz
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D020117:Cisapride; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D020117:Cisapride