Factors that may increase morbidity in a model of intra-abdominal contamination caused by gallstones lost in the peritoneal cavity.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of intraperitoneal gallstones with and without Escherichia coli and sterile bile on the incidence of intraperitoneal complications in mice.


METHODS
Prospective randomised study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Turkey.


METHODS
180 Swiss albino mice in five groups, n = 20 in the control group, and n = 40 in each of the experimental groups.


METHODS
Group A laparotomy alone (controls); group B, laparotomy amd intraperitoneal instillation of E. coli 4 x 10(6) 0.1 ml; group C, laparotomy and insertion of sterilised gallstones; group D, laparotomy, insertion of gallstones and instillation of E. coli 4 x 10(6) 0.1 ml; and group E, laparotomy, insertion of gallstones, and instillation of E. coli 4 x 10(6) 0.1 ml and sterile bile 0.1 ml. A quarter of each group was killed after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks.


METHODS
Intra-peritoneal abscesses, adhesions, perforations, fistula, or obstruction.


RESULTS
No mice died. Adhesions were found in 3(15%), 7(18%), 30(75%), 25(63%), and 24(60%) in the five groups, respectively. No mice in groups A, B, or C developed an abscess, but 8 did in each of groups D and E (20%). One mouse in group D developed obstruction. Logistic regression showed that abscess formation was significantly increased by the addition of gallstones and E. coli to the peritoneal cavity (p < 0.001) but the addition of bile had no effect. Gallstones increased the rate of adhesions more than nine fold (p < 0.001) but E. coli with or without bile had no effect (p = 0.75).


CONCLUSIONS
Free gallstones within the peritoneal cavity with or without E. coli or sterile bile, or both, increased the rate of formation of both abscesses and adhesions in mice. These results suggest that efforts should be made retrieve gallstones that are dropped into the peritoneal cavity during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, particularly in patients with acute cholecystitis.
Agalar
F
F
Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Sayek
I
I
Agalar
C
C
Cakmakçi
M
M
Hayran
M
M
Kavuklu
B
B
D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D051379:Mice; D009017:Morbidity; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology