IN AN EARLIER study we reported the results of an attempt to prevent peritoneal adhesions by using liquid silicone. It was found that not only did the silicone fail to prevent adhesions, but the adhesions in the silicone treated animals were thicker than in the controls. In addition it was found that the silicone evoked a definite histological response. The present report comprises a study of the evolution of that response.
Material and Methods
Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300 gm were used throughout. Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, laparotomy was done on all of the rats after which they were divided into four groups:
Group A.
—A group of six animals had abrasion only. The large intestine and terminal 10 cm of the small intestine were abraded with gauze. The intestines were returned to the peritoneal cavity and the abdomens were closed.
Group S.
—Twelve animals had silicone only.