Adhesion prevention by solutions of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in the rat. I

Solutions of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) were studied in rats to determine their longevity within the peritoneal cavity and their potential for prevention of postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions. In 18 rats, test solutions of SCMC and 10% dextran 40 were instilled at laparotomy. At 48 hours copious amounts of SCMC remained, whereas no 10% dextran 40 could be detected. In addition, standardized surgical injury was produced on the ceca of 100 rats at laparotomy. All control animals had significant adhesions at 2 weeks. Eighty-two percent of the 10% dextran 40 group had significant adhesions, while only 16% of the 0.9 wt% SCMC and 17% of the 1.0 wt% SCMC groups had significant adhesions. Solutions of SCMC were significantly more effective than 10% dextran 40 in the prevention of adhesions (P less than 0.001). Properties of SCMC and a possible mechanism for its striking effectiveness in adhesion prevention in this study are discussed.