title: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator reduces adhesion formation in a rabbit uterine horn model.
abstract: To evaluate the potential benefit of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) as an agent for reducing postoperative adhesions, a rabbit uterine horn model was studied. Fifty-five rabbits underwent laparotomy, at which time the uterus was abraded with scalpel and a thermal injury was induced with electrocautery. Before abdominal closure, rt-PA was applied topically in various dosages. Adhesions were evaluated at a second laparotomy performed 2 weeks later. Treatment significantly reduced both adhesion quantity (P less than 0.001) and adhesion density (P less than 0.001). In the second phase of the study, the efficacy of rt-PA as an adjunct to surgical adhesiolysis was investigated. Again, a dose-related treatment effect was observed (P less than 0.001). No wound healing or bleeding complications were seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Doody
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Buttram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator