The mouse as a model to study adhesion formation following endoscopic surgery: a preliminary report N.Yesildaglar1,3, J.L.Ordoñez1, I.Laermans1 and P.R.Koninckx1,2

3To whom correspondence should be addressed Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of a mouse model to study adhesion formation following endoscopic surgery. Following preliminary studies to establish anaesthesia and pneumoperitoneum pressure, a prospective randomized study was carried out to investigate the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on postoperative adhesions. In group I (control group), the duration of pneumoperitoneum was shorter than 5 min. In groups II, III and IV, pneumoperi-toneum was maintained for 60 min without flow, with a continuous low flow (1 ml/min) and a continuous high flow (10 ml/min) through the abdominal cavities of the mice using non-humidified CO2, respectively. Adhesions were scored after 7 days by laparotomy. The total adhesion scores were 0.9 K 0.8 (n J 15) in control group, 2.4 K 0.8 (n J 15) (P < 0.001 versus control group) in group II with no flow, 2.6 K 1.3 (n J 15) (P < 0.001 versus control group) in group III with a continuous low flow and 4.3 K 0.9 (n J 15) (P < 0.001 versus control group and P < 0.001 versus group II and III) in group IV with a continuous high flow. In conclusion, the mouse can be used as a model to study adhesion formation following endoscopic surgery. Duration of CO2 pneumoperitoneum is a co-factor in adhesion formation. Key words: adhesions/endoscopy/mous