Effect of experimental peritonitis and ischaemia on peritoneal fibrinolytic activity.
OBJECTIVE
Measurement of the fibrinolytic response of the peritoneum to experimental peritonitis and ischaemia.


METHODS
Controlled study


METHODS
Academic surgical unit, UK MATERIAL: Male Wistar rats


METHODS
Peritoneal injuries were caused in four groups of male Wistar rats (n = 35 in each group): (1) control group ("open and close" laparotomy); (2) bacterial peritonitis (mixed faecal flora); (3) chemical peritonitis (10 mg/ml tetracycline) and; (4) ischaemic peritoneum (ligated peritoneal buttons). Peritoneal biopsy specimens were taken from five animals in each group at seven time intervals and plasminogen activating activity (PAA) measured by fibrin plate assay.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group the three peritoneal injuries produced a uniform reduction in PAA during the first 6 and 12 hours: at 6 hours the median PAA was 0.029 IU/cm2 for bacterial peritonitis, 0.021 IU/cm2 for chemical peritonitis, and 0.05 IU/cm2 for ischaemic peritoneum compared with 0.112 IU/cm2 for the control group; p < 0.001, ANOVA. At 12 hours the median PAA was 0.024 IU/cm2 for bacterial peritonitis, < or = 0.014 IU/cm2 for chemical peritonitis, and 0.05 IU/cm2 for ischaemic peritoneum compared with 0.112 IU/cm2 for the control group; p < 0.001, ANOVA. There then followed a rebound peak in all groups, maximal at 4-7 days, before a return to baseline values at two weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Peritoneal fibrinolysis was appreciably inhibited after three different standardised peritoneal injuries. The data support the hypothesis that there is a single pathophysiological mechanism of adhesion formation.
Academic Surgical Unit, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
M N
MN
Vipond
S A
SA
Whawell
J N
JN
Thompson
H A
HA
Dudley
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D005337:Fibrin / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000098:blood supply*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000032:analysis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013752:Tetracycline; D013997:Time Factors
D005337:Fibrin; D010958:Plasminogen; D013752:Tetracycline