Effects of pyrolytic carbon on postoperative adhesion formation in rats

Abstract

Peritoneal adhesion is a consequence of wound healing that sometimes causes severe postoperative complications. Despite all the preventive measures and agents, adhesions have still not been eliminated completely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pyrolytic carbon on the development of postoperative peritoneal and uterine tube adhesions. Twenty female Wistar-Albino type rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups: treatment and control groups. After ketamine anaesthesia (50 mg/kg IM), a lower midline abdominal incision was performed and a standard uterine lesion was created by electrocauterization. In the study group, pyrolytic carbon was applied to the surface of the uterus and no additional procedure was applied in the control group. After 2 weeks, all of the rats were killed and uterine adhesions were staged according to the Leach scoring system. In the control group, the total adhesion score was 8.8 +/- 0.42. In the study group, the total adhesion score was 3.3 +/- 1.49, significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Pyrolytic carbon significantly reduces the prevalence of peritoneal and uterine tube adhesion formation in rats. However, further more detailed investigations are needed before this material is used in clinical practice.