Prevention of abdominal adhesions and healing skin after peritoniectomy using low level laser.

BACKGROUND

Adhesions commonly occur after abdominal surgery and can cause bowel obstruction, chronic abdominal pain, and infertility. Their prevention remains a challenge.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of the application of low-level lasers on the prevention of adhesions and scarring of the skin after peritoniectomia.

METHOD: 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).

CONCLUSION

Low-level LASER is effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions in rabbits without compromising strength and healing of the abdominal wall.