A comparison of TC7 and 32% dextran 70 for prevention of postoperative adhesions in hamsters.

Prevention of postoperative adhesion formation has received considerable attention by infertility specialists. Barrier methods and hydroflotation solutions are currently used for adhesion prevention. The present study compared the efficacy of TC7 and 32% dextran 70 in a hamster model. At laparotomy, 90 golden hamsters had a lesion created on the left uterine horn and repaired with absorbable suture. The first experiment used 3-0 chromic catgut suture in 43 hamsters; the second experiment used 5-0 polyglactin 910 suture in 47 hamsters. The animals were randomly divided into a control group (N = 25) which received no treatment, a TC7-treated group (N = 33), and a 32% dextran 70-treated group (N = 32). The animals were sacrificed between 10-14 days after laparotomy and adhesions were graded (0 = no adhesions; 3 = severe adhesions). TC7 had average adhesion scores of 1.91 for chromic catgut and 2.25 for polyglactin 910; 32% dextran 70 had average adhesion scores of 1.53 and 2.00, respectively. These scores were not different from the control average adhesion score of 1.80 for both chromic catgut and polyglactin 910. We conclude that TC7 and 32% dextran 70 do not appear to be effective agents for preventing postoperative adhesions in this animal model.