Abstract
Chandy and Rhoads reported a reduction in the number of adhesions formed in the peritoneum of the rat in response to standardized trauma when a hyaluronidase preparation was employed locally (1). In this study, hyaluronidase was first applied to crush injuries of the rat cecum on the hypothesis that it might diffuse whatever substances that were responsible for initiating the process of adhesion formation due to its action as a spreading factor(2,3,4). Experiments to extend this series to other types of trauma, and other preparations of hyaluronidase have been carried on in this laboratory since with the results that will be recorded below. The additional experiments that were done in the same way showed somewhat the same trend, but the difference was less marked and was not statistically significant when considered apart from the original series. When the method for producing the trauma was changed, these hyaluronidase preparations were ineffective in inhibiting the formation of adhesions. In all of the experiments the white rat was employed.
Methods. The abdomen was opened under aseptic conditions in 110 rats and the cecum traumatized by the use of one of 3 instruments. An Allis tissue forceps was used in 44 animals, a Payr clamp in 19 animals, and a straight Kelly hemostat in 47 animals. After the injury had been produced, an observer decided whether the animal was to be injected locally with hyaluronidase or used as a control. Schering hyaluronidase was applied to the Allis and Payr clamp injuries and Hydase (Wyeth) and Alidase (Searle) to straight hemostat injuries (see Table).
Discussion. An analysis of the results obtained reveals that adhesions developed in 76% of 55 animals treated with various preparations of hyaluronidase after standardized mechanical methods of producing adhesions were performed.
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