title: Prevention of postoperative adhesion formation by individual and combined administration of 4 per cent icodextrin and dimetindene maleate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, no single method has been successful in eliminating peritoneal adhesion formation after major abdominal surgery. This study evaluated the individual and possible synergistic effect of a local intraperitoneal barrier, 4 per cent icodextrin, and an intravenously administered antihistamine drug, dimetindene maleate, in the prevention of adhesion development following surgical trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  De novo experimental adhesions were induced by standardized trauma of the peritoneum and large bowel in 120 New Zealand White rabbits. The animals were randomized into four groups receiving intraperitoneal saline, intraperitoneal 4 per cent icodextrin (60 ml), intravenous dimetindene maleate (0.1 mg/kg) and 4 per cent icodextrin-dimetindene in combination (n = 30 per group). Ten days later, adhesion scores and incidence were assessed by two independent surgeons. and surface area by computer-aided planimetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with either icodextrin or dimetindene maleate significantly reduced adhesion scores and increased the incidence of adhesion-free animals in an equipotent manner. The effect of combined treatment on severity, incidence and surface area of adhesions was more pronounced than that of each drug administered separately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined administration of 4 per cent icodextrin and dimetindene maleate may be used safely and efficaciously to prevent surgically induced adhesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Larissa University Hospital, Larissa, Greece. ktepetes@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tepetes
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Asprodini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christodoulidis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spyridakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kouvaras
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatzitheofilou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004115:Dimethindene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077607:Icodextrin; D015588:Observer Variation; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005936:Glucans; D000077607:Icodextrin; D004115:Dimethindene; D005947:Glucose