The effects of sterile or infected bile and dropped gallstones in abdominal adhesions and abscess formation.

Abstract

The effects of gallstones and sterile or infected bile on postoperative adhesions and abscess formation were investigated in Sprague Dawley rats. The first three groups were injected intraperitoneally with serum saline, sterile bile, or infected bile, respectively. Laparotomy was adjusted to the next seven groups. Serum saline, sterile bile, and infected bile were injected in the fourth through sixth groups intraperitoneally, respectively. Gallstones were placed intraabdominally to the seventh through ninth groups. The injections of sterile bile in group 7 and of infected bile in group 8 were added to laparotomies. Only laparotomy was carried out in group 10. Abscess formations were seen only in infected-bile-injected groups. Significant adhesion formations were seen in infected-bile groups. Sterile bile and/or gallstones had no significant effect in abscess or adhesion formation. Results suggest that noninfected gallstones and sterile bile, even in combination, do not increase postoperative intraabdominal complications in rats.