We aimed to evaluate the effects of the barrier agent sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
(SCMC) with and without dexamethasone for the prevention of postoperative adhesion
formation in a rat model of postoperative peritoneal adhesion. A total of 160
three-month old male and female Wistar rats underwent a laparotomy, and adhesions
were induced by ileocecal abrasion. Rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=40
each): group A, untreated; group B, treated with SCMC only; group C1, treated with
SCMC + 3 mg dexamethasone, and group C2, treated with SCMC + 8 mg dexamethasone.
After 12 days, adhesion formation and histopathological changes were compared. In
groups A, B, C1, and C2, the mortality rates were 10, 5, 5, and 5%, respectively. In
groups C1 and C2, the adhesions were filmy and easy to dissect and were milder
compared with those in groups A and B. The total adhesion score in group C1
(3.38±0.49) was significantly lower than that of group B (6.01±0.57; P<0.01) or
group A (8.01±0.67; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adhesion
formation between groups C1 and C2. Compared with groups A and B, groups C1 and C2
exhibited milder histopathological changes. SCMC in combination with dexamethasone
can prevent adhesion formation and is a better barrier agent than SCMC alone. The
safety and feasibility of SCMC in combination with dexamethasone to prevent adhesion
formation after abdominal surgery warrants further clinical study.
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