Surgicel--an absorbable hemostatic material--in prevention of peritoneal adhesions in rats.

Forty rats were laparotomized and subjected to a standardized cecal trauma. In half the number of the rats, the injured cecum was embedded in oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel). In the remaining 20 rats, which served as controls, the cecum was left uncovered. The rats were sacrificed at 14 days after the operation and examined for intraperitoneal adhesions. Adhesions were significantly (p less than 0.001) less common in the group treated with oxidized regenerated cellulose. In a separate series eight rats were used for histological examination of the traumatized cecal wall. No macroscopic residuum of the implant was seen after one or two weeks. However, the histological examination demonstrated small remnants surrounded by ingrowing fibroblasts and inflammatory cells.