Effect of mangan-desferrioxamin in the prevention of peritoneal adhesions.

An experimental study was carried out using mangan-desferrioxamin chelate, an effective iron-chelating and free oxygen radical scavenging agent, to prevent post-operative peritoneal adhesions in 40 Wistar albino rats. The density of adhesions was evaluated and group scores obtained. The means score (2.5 +/- 0.87) for the group of rats treated with mangan-desferrioxamin was significantly different (P < 0.001) (95% confidence interval 0.6 to 1.6) from that of the control group(mean score 3.9 +/- 0.3). This favourable effect of mangan-desferrioxamin in the prevention of post-operative adhesions should encourage further research to determine the mechanisms of action.