The effect of opioids on the development of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions.
People addicted to opium rarely develop intra-abdominal adhesions after abdominal surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effect of opium or morphine on preventing postoperative adhesions in rats. Sixty-three rats were randomly divided into a control group, opium-addicted group, and morphine-addicted group in a double-blind study. Drug dependency was checked by using naloxone. Animals were then operated on and the cecum was abraded. At reoperation 3 weeks later the magnitude of adhesions was evaluated by a scoring system. There was a significant difference between the control, opium-addicted, and morphine-addicted groups with regard to the length (P < .001), thickness (P < .05), and severity of adhesions (P < .05). Opium or morphine reduces the severity of postoperative adhesions. Elucidation of the opioid receptor(s) involved in this process would enable the use of selective ligands and offer a pharmacologic strategy in preventing adhesion formation.
Khorram-Manesh
Amir
A
Department of Surgery, Kungälv Hospital, Kungälv, Sweden. amir.khorram-manesh@vgregion.se
Ardakani
Jalal Vahedian
JV
Behjati
Hamid Reza
HR
Nylund
Gunnar
G
Delbro
Dick
D
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009892:Opium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control*
D009294:Narcotics; D009020:Morphine; D009892:Opium