The effect of intraperitoneal n-acetylcysteine on postoperative adhesions in rat models.

AIM: In this study, we researched the effect of local administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on postoperative intraabdominal adhesion formation in the rat models.

METHODS: 20 female Wistar Albino rats which were 5-7 months old are used for the study. The rats were divided into two equal groups. Group one was administered saline solution (n=10) while group two was administered NAC (n=10) after caecal abrasion. They were dissected on postoperative tenth day and were examined macroscopically and microscopically for the adhesion formation. Intraperitoneal adhesion formation was scored blinded with Evans model. The most adherent bowel section was excised for histopathologic examination. Mann Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: In Group one, all rats have had adhesions. None of the rats in Group two had either severe inflammatory cell reaction or dense interstitial fibrosis. Macroscopic adhesion formation and microscopic inflammatory cell reaction and interstitial fibrosis formation after surgery were less at the group two (NAC applied) (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: We believe that the intraperitoneal single dose usage of NAC may be promising for decreasing the postoperative intraabdominal adhesions.

KEY WORDS: N-acetylcysteine, Postoperative adhesion, Rat, Fibrosis.