Hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose film and perianastomotic adhesions in previously irradiated rats

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions are a major source of po stsurgical morbidity. Pelvic irradiation increases the likelihood of adhesi on development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hy aluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose film, which was designed as a barrier to prevent adhesions, on the healing of ileal anastomoses performed on irra diated rat bowel. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent whole pelvic irradiation with a single fraction of 1700 cGy Twenty weeks later the rats underwent exploratory laparotomy with segmental ileal resection and reanas tomosis. Eighteen of the anastomoses were wrapped in hyaluronic acid-carbox ymethylcellulose film. Fifty anastomoses were not treated with any adhesion -inhibiting barrier. On the fifth postoperative day the animals underwent a nother laparotomy for evaluation of the anastomotic sites. RESULTS: At the second laparotomy 93% of the rats treated with hyaluronic a cid-carboxymethylcellulose film were found to have perianastomotic abscesse s. In the non-hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose film group the periana stomotic abscess rate was 24% (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Among previously irradiated rats undergoing small-bower resecti on and anastomosis, hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose film was associa ted with a markedly increased rate of abscess formation at the operative si te.