Prevention of peritoneal adhesions by intraperitoneal administration of vitamin E: an experimental study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have shown dietary supplements of vitamin E to reduce the incidence of postoperative peritoneal adhesions. The objective of this study was to show the effect of intramuscular or intraperitoneal administration of vitamin E on peritoneal adhesions.


METHODS
Eighty rats were divided into four groups: Group A (control), Group B (intramuscular vitamin E), Group C (intraperitoneal olive oil, the vehicle/diluent of vitamin E), and Group D (intraperitoneal vitamin E diluted in olive oil). The same experimental method was used in all rats to produce adhesions, consisting of cecal abrasion and ligature of the adjacent parietal peritoneum. The rats were killed at 14 days to assess the adhesions occurring. The results were analyzed using a chi-squared test.


RESULTS
All animals in Groups A, B, and C had substantial adhesions. In Group D, 11 rats had insubstantial adhesions and only 4 had substantial adhesions. There were no significant differences between Groups A, B, and C in terms of percent formation of adhesions. A significant difference was found between Group D (vitamin E plus olive oil by the intraperitoneal route) and each of the experimental groups, A, B, and C (P < 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that intraperitoneal administration of vitamin E just before closing the laparotomy was effective for reducing adhesion formation. By contrast, the same effect was not achieved after intramuscular administration.
de la Portilla
Fernando
F
Coloproctology Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez, Huelva, Spain.
Ynfante
Ignacio
I
Bejarano
Daniel
D
Conde
Jaime
J
Fernández
Ana
A
Ortega
José Ma
JM
Carranza
Gonzalo
G
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002432:Cecum / Q000293:injuries; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D014810:Vitamin E