Poe. Mueller et al., Effect of carboxymethylcellulose and a hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membrane on healing of intestinal anastomoses in horses, AM J VET RE, 61(4), 2000, pp. 369-374
Objective-To evaluate the effect of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) or
a hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membrane (HA membrane) on healing of
the small intestine in horses.
Animals-18 healthy adult horses.
Procedure-Midline celiotomy and 2 jejunal resection-and-anastomosis surgeri
es were performed. In treated horses, SCMC (n = 6) or a HA membrane (6) was
applied to the jejunum to cover the anastomosis. There were 6 untreated co
ntrol horses. Horses were euthanatized 10 days after surgery. For each hors
e, 1 anastomosis was used for histologic examination, and the second was us
ed to determine intestinal bursting strength. Intestinal bursting tension,
serosal granulation tissue, serosal fibrin deposition, and width of the fib
rous seal at the anastomosis were compared among groups.
Results-3 control horses had adhesions associated with the anastomosis; but
none of the treated horses had adhesions associated with the anastomosis.
Mean thickness of fibrin deposited on the serosal surfaces for the SCMC and
HA-membrane groups was significantly less than that for control horses. Me
an thickness of serosal granulation tissue, width of fibrous seal between i
nverted musculature, inflammatory cell infiltrate scores, and bursting tens
ion did not differ significantly among groups.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Use of SCMC or application of a HA membr
ane to small intestinal anastomoses in horses resulted in fewer adhesions a
nd decreased fibrin deposition, and it did not adversely affect anastomotic
healing. In horses at increased risk for intra-abdominal adhesions, SCMC o
r application of HA membranes may decrease the frequency of adhesions witho
ut adversely affecting healing of small intestinal anastomoses.