Abstract

The aim of this study was to study the effect of ozonized saline solutions administered intraperitoneally in rabbits suffering from severe acute pancreatitis with infected necrosis. The acute pancreatitis was induced by infusion of sodium taurocholate into the main pancreatic duct and in the next 24 h, a cecal fistula was created to obtain infection of the pancreatic necrosis with intestinal germs. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups of study and each of them underwent continuous peritoneal lavage 2 times a day for 5 days with simple saline (control group), ozonized saline solution 5 mg/L (group A) and respectively ozonized saline solution 9 mg/L processed under an intense electric field (group B). Serum level of C-reactive protein and total peroxides, bacterial content of the peritoneal liquid and tissue specimens from the pancreas and the peripancreatic area were evaluated. Six days after the induction of pancreatitis all surviving animals were sacrificed. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and total peroxides in rabbits treated with ozonized saline solution were significantly lower as compared to those of rabbits belonging to the control group. Regarding bacterial growth, a significant decrease was obtained in the peritoneal liquid or even no bacterial growth in groups A and B. Histological examination of the tissue showed specific pancreatic changes in all the groups, but less expressed in groups A and B. No significant differences were encountered between rabbits treated with different ozone concentrations. Intraperitoneal ozone therapy is effective in the amelioration of acute pancreatitis by means of laboratory analysis and decreased bacterial growths.

Key words: Severe acute pancreatitis, ozone-therapy, infection of pancreatic necrotic tissues, intense electric fields.