Evaluation of resorbable barriers for preventing surgical adhesions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of collagen film, collagen gel, sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose film, and fibrin glue to prevent adhesion formation.


METHODS
Randomized trial using a rat model of a standardized abdominal wound and cecal wound.


METHODS
University research laboratory.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley female rats.


METHODS
Resorbable barriers or no barrier (controls) were placed between an abdominal wall wound (1 cm x 2 cm) and a similarly sized cecal wound.


METHODS
Adhesion formation between wounds was assessed and quantitated 7 days after surgery.


RESULTS
Without treatment, 34 of 35 untreated rats (97%) developed adhesions. Treatment with collagen gel (3 of 33 rats), collagen film (3 of 10 rats), or sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose film (2 of 10 rats) significantly reduced the incidence of adhesion formation. Treatment with fibrin sealant resulted in 9 of 10 animals having adherent wounds 7 days after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Resorbable barriers of collagen gel, collagen films and sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose film were effective in significantly reducing adhesion formation. Fibrin sealant at 7 days had an incidence of adhesion formation similar to that in untreated control animals.
Arnold
P B
PB
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
Green
C W
CW
Foresman
P A
PA
Rodeheaver
G T
GT
D000818:Animals; D001697:Biomedical and Dental Materials; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001697:Biomedical and Dental Materials; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium