Although different products have been developed to prevent post-surgical adhesion, their efficacy remains unsatisfactory. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the gelatin sponge in the prevention of post-surgical intra-abdominal adhesions in a rat model. Rats were randomly divided into sham, adhesion, and gelatin groups. All rats, except the sham group, underwent cecal abrasion to establish an adhesion model. After celiotomy, a sterile gelatin sponge was applied intra-abdominal on the abraded cecum in the gelatin group. Rats were sacrificed on day 14 post-surgery and intra-abdominal adhesions were evaluated and scored. Adhesion tissues were evaluated by histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis. Intra-abdominal adhesions were recorded in all rats of the adhesion group. Intra-abdominal application of gelatin sponge significantly (P < 0.001) reduced intra-abdominal adhesions by 91% in the gelatin group relative to the adhesion group. The histological analysis revealed a marked decrease (P < 0.001) in the inflammatory score and neovascularization in the gelatin group. The histochemical analysis found that gelatin sponge administration reduced adhesion formation and thickness of adhesion tissue. Moreover, gelatin sponge significantly (P < 0.0001) increased MMP-9 expression and decreased macrophage marker expression in adhesive tissue. This study revealed that the application of gelatin sponge markedly reduced the post-surgical intra-abdominal adhesions and suggests new guidance for using gelatin sponge as an anti-adhesive substance in clinical practice.
Keywords: Adhesions; Gelatin; Intra-abdominal; Post-surgical; Rat.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.