Evaluation of adhesion formation using Interceed (TC7) absorbable adhesion barrier on ovarian surgical wounds in the rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an Interceed patch would decrease adhesion formation in ovarian surgical wounds healing by second intention in the rabbit model.

METHODS

Twenty-five New Zealand White female rabbits underwent midline laparotomy. Using microsurgical technique, each ovary was bivalved longitudinally with a no. 15 blade scalpel, and hemostasis was achieved with bipolar electrocautery. One ovary was then covered with an Interceed patch in a randomized fashion, while the other ovary served as a control. The animals were then allowed to recover routinely. Four weeks later, the rabbits were euthanized and the adhesions were graded by a blinded observer. Adhesion scores between the Interceed-treated ovaries and the control ovaries were compared by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

The mean adhesion score of the Interceed-treated ovaries (1.65 +/- 0.87) was not significantly different from the mean adhesion score of the control ovaries (1.5 +/- 1.0) (P = .51). Some degree of atrophy was noted in 14 of the 50 ovaries. The mean adhesion score in the atrophied ovaries was significantly higher than in the nonatrophied ovaries, regardless of whether the ovaries had been treated with Interceed (2.21 versus 1.40; P = .01). There was no difference in the incidence of atrophy between the Interceed-treated and untreated sides. Exclusion of the ovaries with atrophy again demonstrated no difference in the mean adhesion scores between the treated and untreated sides.

CONCLUSION

We were not able to demonstrate any benefit from using Interceed to decrease postoperative adhesion formation of ovarian surgical wounds in the rabbit model.