Page 89 - Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Adhesions- New insights in prevention and consequences

Abscesses. Two independent observers assessed the amount and size of abscesses at four sites in the peritoneum: liver, abdominal wall, bowel, and omentum using an objective size scoring system (Table 2)[26].
Table 2. Abscess scoring system
Score Definition
0 No abscess present at the site
0.5 One small abscess present at the site
1 Several small abscesses present at the site 1 Medium abscess present at the site
3 Large or several medium abscesses present at the site
4 One very large or several large abscesses present at the site
Cultures. The fecal sample, intra-abdominal swab, and abscess cultures 5 were evaluated for the strains and amount of bacteria present.
Statistical analysis
Adhesion formation and tenacity, abscess formation, survival, animal weight, and wellness score were compared using non-parametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–WhitneyU) because the data did not show a normal distribution. Therefore, all results are presented using the median and the interquartile range. All reported p values are two-sided and considered significant if p < 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the PSAW statistical software package (IBM SPSS Statistics, Chicago, IL).
Results
No animals needed to be euthanized because of a weight loss of 20% or more or a wellness score < 5. A total of 30 animals survived; 10/14 (72%) in both experimental groups (B and C) and 10/12 (83%) in the control group (A)(p = 0.81). No differences in weight change or wellness score were observed among the three groups. Ten animals died within 24 h after the second operation. All were found to have died of sepsis secondary to fecal peritonitis.
Adhesion barrier and peritonitis
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