A new approach for decreasing postoperative peritoneal adhesions: preventing peritoneal trauma with soybean oil.

BACKGROUND

Covering peritoneal surfaces with soybean oil may decrease peritoneal adhesions by preventing peritoneal trauma.

METHOD(S): Forty female albino Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups. In Group 1, soybean oil only (0.1 ml) was injected into the peritoneal cavity. In Group 2, an untreated adhesion model was generated. In Group 3, an adhesion model was generated, followed by covering the area with soybean oil (0.1 ml). In Group 4, the area was first covered with soybean oil (0.1 ml) followed by generation of an adhesion model. All rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 10, and adhesions were scored.

RESULTS

The mean macroscopic adhesion scores in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0.0 +/- 0.0, 2.90 +/- 0.21, 1.90 +/- 0.94, and 0.50 +/- 0.71, respectively. The Group 4 score differed significantly from that of Group 2 (p <. 001), but was not different from that of Group 1 or 3 (p >. 05).

DISCUSSION: Soybean oil can effectively decrease adhesion formation if applied before peritoneal trauma.