[Does heparin modify the course of chronic abscess-forming peritonitis in the animal model?].

After laparotomy and inoculation of a Bacteroides fragilis suspension (2 ml with 10(8) CFU/ml), we induced chronic abscess-forming peritonitis in rats (n = 19, untreated). Fifteen animals were treated with heparin 30 IU, administered s.c. from day 1 after inoculation of the bacteria onwards. The main groups were divided into three subgroups (n = 8/5/6 and n = 5/5/5), which were observed for 3/7/14 days, respectively. On days 3 and 7, abdominal swabs were not only B. fragilis positive, but also showed severe polyvalent mixed infection after translocation of intestinal bacteria into the abdominal cavity. In the heparin group, B. fragilis positive swabs were reduced and translocation was inhibited (P < 0.05 for days 3 and 7). In the untreated group, blood cultures were B. fragilis positive on days 3/7/14 in 3/2/1 animals versus 0/1/1 in the heparin group. Adhesions were found in the untreated group in 1/4/5 animals, whereas in the heparin group there were no adhesions (P < 0.05 for days 7 and 14). However, intra-abdominal abscesses were also diminished in the heparin group (0/2/1) compared with the untreated animals (2/4/6, P < 0.05 for day 14). Therefore, heparin was shown to have a favourable influence on chronic abscess-forming peritonitis in an animal model.