RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Based on the knowledge of the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial actions of local anesthetics (LA), the objective of this study was to determine the effects of peritoneal lavage with bupivacaine on survival of mice with fecal peritonitis. METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar mice, weighing between 300 and 330 g (311.45 +/- 9.67 g), undergoing laparotomy 6 hours after induction of peritonitis were randomly divided in 4 groups: 1--Control, without treatment (n = 12); 2--Drying of the abdominal cavity (n = 12); 3--Lavage with 3 mL NS and posterior drying of the abdominal cavity (n = 12); and 4--Lavage with 8 mg x kg(-1) (+/- 0.5 mL) of 0.5% bupivacaine added to 2.5 mL of NS followed by drying out of the abdominal cavity (n = 12). Animals that died underwent necropsy and the time of death was recorded. Surviving animals were killed on the 11th postoperative day and underwent necropsy. RESULTS: Group 1 presented a 100% mortality rate in 52 hours, 100% mortality rate in Group 2 in 126 hours, and Group 3 presented a 50% mortality rate in 50 hours. Animals in Group 4 survived. Survival on the 11th day was greater in groups 3 and 4 than in Groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001) and greater in Group 4 than in Group 3 (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal lavage with a solution of bupivacaine diluted in NS was effective in preventing death for 11 days in 100% of animals with fecal peritonitis.