The use of calcium channel blockade for the prevention of postoperative adhesion formation.

Prevention of postoperative adhesion formation is an issue of fundamental concern to the reproductive surgeon. The disappointing results of current adjunctive regimens have prompted a search for more potent antiadhesion therapies. Administration of nifedipine hydrochloride, a prototypical calcium channel blocking agent, to hamsters receiving a standardized traumatic lesion of the left uterine horn significantly inhibited primary adhesion formation as compared to control animals. These preliminary results suggest that calcium channel blockade may have the potential to favorably influence events related to peritoneal repair; further study of these agents as surgical adjuvants in the treatment of chronic pelvic adhesive disease is indicated.