Prevention of pleural adhesions using a membrane containing polyethylene glycol in rats

Int J Med Sci. 2011;8(5):380-6. doi: 10.7150/ijms.8.380. Epub 2011 Jun 20.

Abstract

Background: Recurrent thoracotomies regardless of the cause are not a rare occurrence. However, each thoracotomy results in adhesion to some extent. This adhesions increase morbidity and mortality presents a significant inconvenience for surgeons and prolongs the length of operations.

Objective: We investigated the efficacy of Prevadh®, an anti-adhesion agent to prevent intrapleural adesions following thoracotomy in a rat model.

Methods: Twenty male adult Wistar Albino rats were divided into a sham group (Group A, n = 4), a control group (Group B, n = 8), and a study group (Group C, n = 8). Only left thoracotomy was performed in Group A. Group B underwent left thoracotomy, induction of adhesion, and 1 ml saline solution was administered to the thoracic cavity. However, in Group C underwent left thoracotomy, induction of adhesion, and Prevadh® was placed between the pleura and the lung. The rats were sacrificed on day 21, and adhesions were analyzed using both macroscopic and histopathological methods. The results were statistically analyzed. A value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Mean lengths of adhesion differed statistically significantly among all three groups, while mean intensity of adhesion differed between Group A and Group B, and between Group B and Group C (P>0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference between Group A and Group C in mesothelium proliferation score (P>0.05). No statistically significant differences were found among the groups in terms of pleural thickness, macrophage and mononuclear cell infiltration (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Prevadh® was shown in a rat model to effectively prevent post-thoracotomy adhesions.

Keywords: Polyethylene Glycols; Thoracic Surgery; Thoracotomy; Tissue Adhesions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Collagen
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Glycerol
  • Male
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Pleural Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Prospective Studies
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tissue Adhesions / prevention & control

Substances

  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Collagen
  • Glycerol