REDUCTION OF POSTSURGICAL ADHESION FORMATION IN THE RABBIT UTERINE HORN MODEL WITH USE OF HYALURONATE CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE GEL/

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a bioabsorbable gel for reducing primary postoperative adhesions. Design: A randomized, prospective, bl inded study. Setting: Academic research environment. Animals: Forty-on e New Zealand rabbits. Intervention(s): A chemically modified hyaluron ate and carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC) gel formulation was applied to a bilateral uterine horn injury. Postoperative adhesions were assesse d at a second-look laparoscopy. Main Outcome Measure(s): The uterine h orn model was shown to be adhesiogenic, with 29 (70%) of 42 untreated uterine horns found to have adhesions. After gel treatment, 22 (55%) o f 40 uterine horns were free of adhesions compared with 12 (30%) of 42 controls. Result(s): Animals treated with HA/CMC gel bad significantl y reduced postsurgical adhesion scores when compared with controls. Co nclusion(s): Treatment of injured uterine horn with HA/CMC gel resulte d in a significant reduction in postoperative surgical adhesions. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.