title: A pectin-honey hydrogel prevents postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in a rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adhesions are a common postoperative surgical complication. Liquid honey has been used intraperitoneally to reduce the incidence of these adhesions. However, solid barriers are considered more effective than liquids in decreasing postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion formation; therefore, a new pectin-honey hydrogel (PHH) was produced and its effectiveness was evaluated in a rat cecal abrasion model. Standardized cecal/peritoneal abrasion was performed through laparotomy in 48 adult Sprague-Dawley rats to induce peritoneal adhesion formation. Rats were randomly assigned to a control (C) and treatment (T) group. In group T, PHHs were placed between the injured peritoneum and cecum. Animals were euthanized on day 15 after surgery. Adhesions were evaluated macroscopically and adhesion scores were recorded and compared between the two groups. Inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization were histologically graded and compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group C, 17 of 24 (70.8%) animals developed adhesions between the cecum and peritoneum, while in group T only 5 of 24 (20.8%) did (p = 0.0012). In group C, one rat had an adhesion score of 3, sixteen had scores of 2, and seven rats had scores of 0. In group T, four rats had adhesion scores of 2, one rat had an adhesion score of 1 and nineteen have score 0 (p = 0.0003). Significantly lower grades of inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization were seen in group T (p = 0.006, p = 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PHH is a novel absorbable barrier that is effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions in a cecal abrasion model in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy. gessica.giusto@unito.it.
authors.forename: Gessica
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giusto
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vercelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iussich
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Audisio
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosangela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Odore
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, n. 2, Grugliasco, Turin, 10095, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gandini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056705:Apitherapy / Q000379:methods*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006722:Honey; D020100:Hydrogels; D010368:Pectins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D010368:Pectins
keywords: Adhesion; Honey; Hydrogel; Pectin; Prevention; Rats