Abstract

İt is well known that appropriate surgical techniçue alone will help decrease but not prevent intraabdominai adhesion for-mation. İt is necessary to use adjuvant therapy that falls into two main categories, drugs and barriers. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of HA/CMC (Hyaluronic acid/Carboxymethylcellulose) as a barrier agent for preventing postoperative adhesions and also to determine whether it alters abdominal wound tensile strength. An adhesion forming State was created by traumatization of peritoneal and serozal surfaces and inocuiation of self biood on traumatized areas in 30 guinea pigs. HA/CMC was applied between the viscera and the abdominai wall before laparotomy clo-sure in the experimental group (n= 15). Three weeks after the operation the adhesion scores were obtained and the abdominai wall wound was evaiuated for tensile strength. Adhesion formation was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (U= 197, p< 0.05). There were no statistically significant difference for tensile strength betvveen the two groups (U=113, p> 0.05). HA/CMC has no adverse effect on wound tensile strength, while significantly lovvering adhesion formation. However, it does not totally prevent it. Future investigations on its insufficient States and causes will help in obtaining successfui results.