title: A bioabsorbable membrane (Seprafilm®) may prevent postoperative mediastinal adhesions following mediastinoscopy: an experimental study in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the anti-adhesion property of a bioabsorbable membrane following mediastinoscopy in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Mediastinoscopy was performed all of them. Rats were divided into two groups; control group (n=10); mediastinoscopy alone, study group (n=10); mediastinoscopy and sodiumhyaluronate-carboxymethlycellulose film (Seprafilm®; Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, Mass. USA). It was used to the mediastinal surface at the end of the surgical procedure in study group. Re-mediastinoscopy was performed after 7 days. Adhesion and vascularity grade description scores were analyzed. The parameters evaluated were presence of polymorhphonucleer leucocyte, macrophage, lymphocyte, fibroblasts, edema, neovascularisation, collagenisation, and foreing body reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the rats survived uneventfully until being sacrificed without any postoperative complications. The mean adhesion score was found to be significantly higher in control group (n=2.5±0.5) compared with study group (n=1.0±0.1) (P=0.007). Vascularity grade description score was significantly higher in control group (n=2.3±0.6) than in study group (n=1.4±0.6) (P=0.009). There were no statistical differences between the groups with regard to edema, lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration, fibroblast proliferation and foreign body reactions (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The used of Seprafilm® during the primary procedure can reduce to the mediastinal adhesions. However, further studies are required to assess the precise impact of the anti-adhesive agents on adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Thoracic Surgery and Chest Disease Research and Education Hospital Zeytinburnu İstanbul Turkey.
authors.forename: Songül
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Büyükkale
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Thoracic Surgery and Chest Disease Research and Education Hospital Zeytinburnu İstanbul Turkey.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Çıtak
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Thoracic Surgery and Chest Disease Research and Education Hospital Zeytinburnu İstanbul Turkey.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: İşgörücü
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Thoracic Surgery and Chest Disease Research and Education Hospital Zeytinburnu İstanbul Turkey.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayar
keywords: Mediastinoscopy; mediastinal adhesion; re-mediastinoscopy; sodiumhyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose