New quantitative variables to measure postoperative pericardial adhesions. Useful tools in experimental research.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the measurement system, during a research for the prevention of adhesions, we explored the feasibility of introducing three continuous numeric variables to quantify the intensity of pericardial adhesions.


METHODS
To validate these three new numeric variables - time spent to dissect the adhesions (Deltat), the amount of sharp dissection (ShpD) and the adhesion's collagen area (ACA) - as useful tools in measuring the severity of pericardial adhesions, data from a randomized study on adhesion prevention enrolling twenty-four swine, were analysed. A statistical Spearman's test and regressions models were applied to verify the correlation and the relationship between the results of a standard severity score (SS) and Deltat, between SS and ShpD used in adhesiolysis and, also, between SS and ACA.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant correlation between SS and Deltat, between SS and ShpD, as well as between SS and ACA, all measured by the Spearman's test (r=0.897, r=0.932, r=0.66; p<0.01, respectively). Through a non-linear regression, an exponential relation of SS with ShpD (R(2)=0.915) and SS with Deltat (R(2)= 0.917) was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The time spent to dissect the adhesions (Deltat) and the amount of sharp dissection (ShpD) are new powerful measurement tools in evaluating outcomes of the methods used to prevent pericardial adhesions.
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Institute, School of Medicine, USP, Sao Paulo, Brazil. jackson.lopes@incor.usp.br
Jackson Brandão
JB
Lopes
Luís Alberto Oliveira
LA
Dallan
Luiz Felipe Pinho
LF
Moreira
Mário Castro
MC
Carreiro
Flávia Luana Barbosa
FL
Rodrigues
Pedro de Castro
Pde C
Mendes
Noedir Antônio Groppo
NA
Stolf
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome