Experimental study evaluating the effect of a barrier method on postoperative intraabdominal adhesions

The purpose of this animal study was to determine if tissue glue-coated collagen sponge is an effective barrier method to prevent localized adhesions in a modified rabbit sidewall model. Rabbits were divided into two groups and underwent laparotomy with subsequent creation of a cecal wound according to the rabbit sidewall model. Rabbits of group I (treatment group; n = 10) were treated with a TachoComb H patch placed on the defect, whereas group II animals (control group; n = 6) did not receive further treatment. All animals were sacrificed 2 weeks postoperatively and adhesions were evaluated using special adhesion score. A further six rabbits underwent TachoComb H application at the cecum to investigate the histological changes during a course of 12 weeks. The average adhesion scores were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the treatment group compared to the controls. Histologically the TachoComb H patch was surrounded by granulation tissue without signs of infection. Tissue glue-coated collagen sponge (TachoComb H) is effective to prevent localized intraabdominal adhesions in the modified rabbit sidewall model.