Preventing intraperitoneal adhesions with atorvastatin and sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose: a comparative study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of atorvastatin with the sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC, Seprafilm; Genzyme; Genzyme Biosurgery Corporation, Cambridge, MA) in preventing postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation in rats.


METHODS
Sixty Wistar rats underwent a laparotomy, and adhesions A were induced by cecal abrasion. The animals were divided into 4 groups: group 1, control A; group 2, (A + atorvastatin); group 3, (A + HA/CMC), and group 4, (A + atorvastatin + HA/CMC). The atorvastatin (groups 2 and 4) and HA/CMC (groups 3 and 4) were administered intraperitoneally before the abdominal wall was closed. After 14 days, adhesions were classified by 2 independent surgeons.


RESULTS
The adhesion scores (mean +/- standard deviation) for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 2.93 +/- .59, 1.85 +/- 1.07, 1.80 +/- .86, and 1.93 +/- .70, respectively. The differences in adhesion scores among all 3 preventive groups (groups 2, 3, and 4) were statistically significant when compared with the control group (P = .005, P = .002, and P = .009, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that atorvastatin, administered intraperitoneally, is as effective as HA/CMC without an expectable additive effect in preventing postoperative adhesions in rats.
Lalountas
Miltiadis A
MA
Second Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Aristotle University, Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, 49 Konstantinoupoleos Str., Thessaloniki, Greece. miltiadislalountas@yahoo.gr
Ballas
Konstantinos D
KD
Skouras
Christos
C
Asteriou
Christos
C
Kontoulis
Theodoros
T
Pissas
Dimitrios
D
Triantafyllou
Apostolos
A
Sakantamis
Athanasios K
AK
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; C118198:Seprafilm; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D000069059:Atorvastatin