A comparison of three fibrinolytic agents in prevention of intra-abdominal adhesions.

PURPOSE: Three different drugs affecting the coagulation process at various stages were studied for their effectiveness in preventing intra-peritoneal adhesion formation in rats.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Forty female Wistar-Albino rats divided into four groups based on the drugs administered during the experimental laparotomy and caecal abrasion: the control group--no drug administered, the intra-peritoneal tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) group, the subcutaneous fondaparinux sodium (FS) group and the intra-peritoneal activated drotrecogin alfa (ADA) group. After two weeks, intra-peritoneal adhesions were macroscopically and microscopically scored.

RESULTS

The macroscopic scores of the three groups were similar but all lower than the control group (p = 0.002). Inflammation (p = 0.023) and fibrosis (p = 0.019) scores were lower in just the ADA group when compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

All three agents were effective in preventing adhesions when compared to the control group. Nevertheless, ADA seemed the most effective except when considering clinical applicability, in which case FS seemed to offer the greatest advantage.