Objective Intra-abdominal adhesions are an important surgical problem. Colorectal operations are a major cause of adhesive obstruction. Radiation therapy (RT) is frequently used as an adjuvant therapy to surgery for rectal cancer, though its value for colon carcinoma remains unclear. Peritoneal injuries including the surgical trauma, tissue ischaemia as well as RT are associated with peritoneal ®brinolytic activity. A sodium hyaluronate and carboxymethylcellulose bioresorbable membrane (Sepra-®lm Ò ) has been used to reduce intra-abdominal adhesion formation. We have investigated the effect of Sepra®lm Ò on intra-abdominal adhesion in rats receiving RT after the resection of the left colon.Materials and methods Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: group 1 (n 16), control (colon resection, no Sepra®lm Ò ); group 2 (n 16), study group (colon resection and Sepra®lm Ò ). All the rats received 50 Gy RT after left colon resection. Intraabdominal adhesions were evaluated by grading and measurement of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) as a tissue adhesion marker in peritoneal samples from the rats. tPA was determined using a commercially available ELISA kit.
ResultsThe levels of tPA were signi®cantly increased in group 2 rats compared with those in the control group (P 0.0276). It was also seen that adhesions in the rats receiving Sepra®lm Ò were signi®cantly less severe than those in the control group.Conclusion Our ®ndings suggest that the intraperitoneal administration of Sepra®lm Ò reduced the frequency and strength of adhesions.