Evaluation of wound healing and post-operative intra-abdominal adhesions in opium addicted rats

Introduction: Opium addiction can change immune response to Types of stress such as injury or trauma due to alterations in the in secretion status of cytokines in the body. In this study, effects of opium addiction on wound healing and post-operative adhesion bands were assessed after laparotomy. Materials and Methods: Male rats (n=20) were randomly divided into opium addicted (documented with Naloxone test) and control group. Three weeks after surgery, site of abdominal incision was excised elliptically and sent for wound healing grading assessment by pathologist and an intra-abdominal adhesion band assessment was done. The concentrations of three cytokines (TNF alpha , IFNy and IL10) were also measured before, immediately after surgery and 24 hour after surgery. Results: Post-operative intra-abdominal adhesion was decreased in opium addicted group in comparison to control group (p value = 0.014). No statistically significant difference was found in the wound healing phase in two groups (P value = 0.057). Our findings showed that serum level of TNF alpha , IFNy and IL10 in two groups measured in all phases of examination (before surgery, within 30-60 min after surgery and 24h after surgery), were not statistically different/significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Since opium addiction can decrease post-operative intra-abdominal adhesions in rats, they may be susceptible to increased inflammation and these effects may be due to decreased post-operative pain.