Prevention of intraabdominal adhesions in ponies by low-dose heparin therapy.
An ischemic bowel model was used to stimulate adhesion formation in eight ponies. Heparin (40 USP u/kg) or saline was administered intravenously at surgery and was continued subcutaneously every 12 hours for 48 hours to evaluate the efficacy of heparin in preventing intraabdominal adhesions. Ponies were euthanatized after 6 weeks, and postmortem examinations were performed. A statistically significant difference was found between the heparin-treated and the control groups. Adhesions developed in three of four control ponies, and adhesions did not develop in three of four heparin-treated ponies. None of the adhesions resulted in clinical disease. In this study, heparin decreased the formation of adhesions in ponies after experimentally induced intestinal ischemia.
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000098:blood supply*; D011897:Random Allocation; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary
D006493:Heparin