title: Chlorhexidine as a factor that promotes peritoneal adhesions in rats with induced peritonitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of chlorhexidine on the formation of adhesions and dilation of the colon at the oral end of anastomosis in the presence of peritonitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritonitis was induced in male Wistar rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Abdominal cavities were irrigated with tepid solutions containing 0.9% saline (SAL group; n=8) or 0.05% chlorhexidine (CHD group; n=8), after which colon anastomoses were performed. Control rats (n=8) were submitted to colon anastomoses but not to CLP. Animals were euthanised seven days after surgery and the incidence of adhesions, the degree of dilation of colon loops and an index were calculated to determine variables correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No animals exhibited macroscopic signs of residual peritonitis or abdominal abscesses. Adhesions were observed in 75% of control and 100% of SAL and CHD animals. Dilation of intestinal loops at the oral end of anastomosis was observed in control (50%), SAL (57.2%) and CHD (66.7%) animals. The calculated index was 1.25 in group A; 1.86 in group B; and 2.0 group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlorhexidine promoted stronger adhesions and a greater dilatation of colonic loops than control group.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Surgery, Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Rodrigues
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bicalho
authors.forename: Claudio Alvarenga Campos
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mayrink
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Daniel Gomes de
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.forename: Tarcizo Afonso
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Fabíola Alves dos
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Duval Araújo
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine