Prevention of Reformation of Peritoneal Adhesions

Peritoneal adhesions were produced in 20 rabbits and 35 monkeys by traumatizing the cecum and corresponding parietal peritoneum. Adhesions were classified into six grades, depending on the extent and density. Combined therapy with oxyphenbutazone, proteolytic enzymes from carica papaya, and dextran 40 after lysis of adhesions reduced the reformation of peritoneal adhesions significantly, and the percentage reduction was greatest as compared to the individual use of the drugs. It is emphasized that the role of any therapy in peritoneal adhesions should be evaluated only by the decrease in the reformation of adhesions after lysis.