[Prevention of peritoneal adhesion formation with a combination of carboxymethyl-cellulose and papain: experimental study].

The inhibitory action of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and papain (PP) in peritoneal adhesions formation, were studied in Wistar rats. After ether anesthesia and a midline laparotomy incision, the right parietal peritoneum was pinched with a fine hemostat and the pinched peritoneal fold was then ligated. This maneuver was repeated thrice creating four point as if they were little "polyps" with a standardized size. Before closing the incision, it was deposited on the four points of each animal the following substances: group A--saline solution; group B--CMC 2%; group C--PP 0.4% in distilled water; group D--CMC 2% + PP 0.2%; group E--CMC 2% + PP 0.4%. After ten days, the rats were sacrificed and classified according to the number of "points" that showed adhesions with the abdominal structures. There was a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of adhesions only in the group E (CMC + PP 0.4%).