Increased adhesion formation after gelatin–thrombin matrix application in a rat model

To evaluate the effects of gelatin matrix and thrombin-based hemostatic sealant agents (gelatin–thrombin matrix) on postoperative adhesion formation in the rat uterine horn model.

A total of fourteen female Wistar-Albino rats were used in our postoperative adhesion formation model. Both uterine horns were exposed by midline incision with sterile technique and each uterine horn was traumatized by bipolar electrocautery. Before closure of the abdomen, 0.9 % NaCl solution was administered intraperitoneally in the control group and the gelatin–thrombin matrix was applied on the traumatized areas on the uterine horns of the rats in the study group. At day 21 after the first surgery, the intraperitoneal macroscopic adhesion scores and the extent of fibrosis, inflammation scores, inflammatory cell activities, inflammation types of adhesion tissues, and the level of free oxygen radicals [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and antioxidant enzyme activity [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] in the uterine horn tissue were measured.

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of macroscopic adhesion scores (p = 0.064), MDA levels (p = 0.121), and GST activity (p = 0.360). However, there was statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the extent of fibrosis (p < 0.001), inflammation score (p = 0.001), inflammatory cell activity (p = 0.002), and SOD activity (p < 0.001).

Gelatin–thrombin matrix was found to have increased the extent of fibrosis, inflammatory cell activity, and inflammation score, and reduced the activity of SOD, which acts to prevent cell damage.