title: Prevention of abdominal adhesions and healing skin after peritoniectomy using low level laser.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adhesions commonly occur after abdominal surgery and can cause bowel obstruction, chronic abdominal pain, and infertility. Their prevention remains a challenge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of the application of low-level lasers on the prevention of adhesions and scarring of the skin after peritoniectomia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four New Zealand breed male rabbits, approximately 2 months of age, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): GC-control group not subjected to laser, GL1-group with laser application at a dose of 0.2 J, and GL2-group with laser application at a dose of 3.6 J. All animals received a longitudinal midline incision and a bilateral resection of the peritoneal fragment, measuring 3 × 1 cm(2) . The animals received a laser treatment of one application every 24 hours, beginning at the time of surgery and lasting for a period of 4 days. After 14 days post-surgery, the animals were killed and adhesion formation was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by means of a laparotomy shaped inverted "U", which allowed for the verification of the broad wall of the abdominal cavity and organs. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adhesion formation was observed in 100% of the rabbits from groups GC and GL1, as compared to 37.5% of the rabbits from group GL2 (P < 0.01). The evaluation of the vascularization and tenacity of adhesions among the groups showed no significant difference. In groups CG and GL1, 72% and 83% of adhesions were verified between visceras, respectively whereas in GL2 occurred among abdominal wall. The tensile strength of the skin between the groups was not significant (P = 0.3106). The resistance of abdominal wall segments without skin he resistance of skin segments between groups GL2 and GC were higher than in GL1 (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-level LASER is effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions in rabbits without compromising strength and healing of the abdominal wall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Post Graduation Course of Santa Casa de BH, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mara L C D
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Post Graduation Course of Santa Casa de BH, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Post Graduation Course of Santa Casa de BH, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tharcisio G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Post Graduation Course of Santa Casa de BH, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petroianu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Post Graduation Course of Santa Casa de BH, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: healing; laser therapy; low-level laser; low-power laser irradiation; low-power laser therapy; peritoneal adhesions; photobiostimulation laser; rabbit; tensile strength