The role of oral fluvastatin on postoperative peritoneal adhesion formation in an experimental rat model

Postoperative peritoneal adhesions are a momentousness complication after abdominal surgery. Although varied means have been used to prevent and treat adhesions, the effects have not been satisfactory. Fluvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fluvastatin on postoperative peritoneal adhesion formation.

Seventy-five male Wistar rats weighting 220-250g were randomly assigned equally to three groups. Group A was given sham operation without treatment, Group B was the model group in which postoperative peritoneal adhesion model was created without medication, and Group C was given oral fluvastatin treatment after postoperative peritoneal adhesion model created. After laparotomy on day 7, macroscopic and pathological assessment were evaluated, IL-1β and t-PA in plasma were performed to measure, and tissue samples were taken to measure MMP-9 protein.

There were significant differences between the groups on adhesion grade (p < .05), IL-1β content of the plasma and t-PA activity of the adhesions (p < .05). The grading of adhesion demonstrated significant differences between all groups. The levels of the IL-1β content of plasma, t-PA activity and MMP-9 of adhesion showed pivotal changes in Group B compared with Group A and C, while the difference between Group A and C was not statistically significant.

Oral fluvastatin application could reduce formation of intra-abdominal adhesion by promoting expression of MMP-9 level, lowering the levels of IL-1β and increasing the activity of t-PA after abdominal surgery.