Fibrin glue reduces intra-abdominal adhesions to synthetic mesh in a rat ventral hernia model

Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions are associated with significant mor bidity and mortality. In this study, the effect of topical fibrin glue (FG) on adhesion formation in a rat model was investigated. Forty Sprague-Dawle y male rats underwent midline laparotomy. Bilateral peritoneal-muscular abd ominal wall defects were created and then replaced with premeasured soft ti ssue Goretex patches. Rats were randomized to FG sprayed over the patches o r to a control group. Two observers blinded to the randomization assessed t he severity of adhesions to the patch by scoring the density of adhesions ( grades 0-3) and the percentage of the patch area covered by adhesions (0-10 0%). The mean percentage of the patch covered by adhesions was 32.8 +/- 6.1 per cent for the FG group versus 57.9 +/- 6.7 per cent for the control gro up (P < 0.01). The mean density of adhesions for the FG group was 0.95 (+/- 0.17) versus 2.0 (+/-0.21) for the control group (P = 0.001). Topical FG re duces the severity and density of intra-abdominal adhesions in a rat model.