Introduction Following abdominopelvic operations, almost 95% of patients are shown to have adhesions at subsequent sur- gery (1). The mortality rate from adhesion related bowel obstruction is 6% to 15% (2, 3). Clearly the costs of adhesion related health care are significant (3-5). Surgical injury to the peritoneum is the main reason for postoperative adhesion formation. Peritoneal injury induces an inflammatory response that eventually leads to up-regulation of the expression of tissue factor by macrophages and mesothelial cells. This causes activa- tion of the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, eventually leading to the formation of a fibrinous exu- date (6). In addition to meticulous surgical technique, several approaches have been used in the prevention of adhesions, including : anti-inflammatory agents, fibri- nolytic agents, antibiotics, and synthetic solid barriers (7, 8). Trauma to the peritoneum initiates inflammatory reac- tions in inter-related biological systems, including the fibrinolytic system and coagulation cascade. The result of these reactions is the deposition of a fibrin-rich matrix on peritoneal surfaces, which can cause the formation of fibrin bands and adhesion between peritoneal surfaces. The main fibrinolytic stimulator is the tissue-type plas- minogen activator (t-PA), which activates plasmin. Plasmin then degrades fibrin gel into fibrin degradation products (9, 10). Statins (3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) antagonize the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in hepatic cholesterol synthesis. This leads to reduction in the synthesis and secretion of lipoproteins by the liver, as well as up-regulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors on hepatocytes, increasing clearance of circu- lating apolipoprotein E- and B-containing lipopro- teins (11). Clinically, the statins are currently used sole- ly for their lipid-lowering effects in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. However, various experimental studies have shown statins to also have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-fibrinolytic properties (12-15), all of which may play a role in the process of adhesion formation and its pre- vention. Fluvastatin showed hydroxyl radical scavenging activity as potent as that of dimethylthiourea and alpha- tocopherol (16). BELTOWSKI et al. (17) reported that Acta Chir Belg, 2010, 110, 66-70 Oral Fluvastatin Reduces the Severity of Peritoneal Adhesions in Rats Y. Hos˛can*, Z. Karabulut**, M. B. Hos˛can***, S. Arikan****, E. Ög ˘üs˛****, H. Müderrisog ˘lu* Department of Cardiology*, Department of General Surgery**, Department of Urology***, Department of Biochemistry and Biostatistics****, Bas ˛kent University, Faculty of Medicine, Alanya, Turkey. Key words. Fluvastatin ; peritoneal adhesions ; experimental surgery. Abstract. Background : The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fluvastatin on peritoneal adhesion forma- tion. Methods : 48 female Wistar-albino rats weighing 200-220 g were divided into four groups each containing 12 rats. Group I was sham, Group II was the control group, while Group III was given 10 mg/kg/day (28 days) oral fluvastatin. In Group IV, 10 mg/kg fluvastatin was administered intraperitoneally at the time of laparotomy but the rats died from that dose. After laparotomy on day 14, caecal serosal abrasions and punctuate haemorrhagies were performed. On day 28, laparotomies were repeated. Adhesions were graded and tissue samples were taken from incisions and adhesions. Hydroxyproline contents representing adhesions were measured quantitatively. On the 28th day, blood samples were taken to measure the tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity. Results : There were significant differences between the groups for adhesion severity (p < 0.0001), hydroxyproline content and t-PA activity of the adhesions (p < 0.0001). Analysis of the grading of adhesions documented significant differences between all groups. When the hydroxyproline content and t-PA activity of the adhesions was analyzed, there were significant differences between groups II, I and III, but the difference between group I and group III was not statistically significant. Conclusions : The data presented in this study demonstrate that the oral administration of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor fluvastatin reduced intra-abdominal adhesion formation. Experimental surgery