Evaluation of the SprayGel™ adhesion barrier in the rat cecum abrasion and rabbit uterine horn adhesion models

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a new adhesion barrier in the prevention of postoperative adhesion formation. Design: A double-blind controlled study of the efficacy of SprayGel in reducing postoperative adhesion formation in two animal models. Setting: Animal care facility of a contract testing laboratory. Animal(s): Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly allocated into two groups in the cecum abrasion model. Twenty New Zealand white female rabbits were randomly allocated into two groups in the uterine horn abrasion model. Intervention(s): In the rat model, the cecum was abraded with gauze and the abdominal wall was abraded with a scalpel. Treated animals received SprayGel coating on injured surfaces; control animals received no treatment. In the rabbit model, uterine horns were abraded with a scalpel. Treated animals received SprayGel coating on injured surfaces; control animals received no treatment. Main Outcome Measure(s): Postoperative adhesion formation. Result(s): In the rat model, SprayGel was found to significantly reduce the incidence of adhesions, which formed in 7 of 8 control rats compared with 1 of 8 treated rats. In the rabbit model, SprayGel was found to significantly reduce both the extent and severity of adhesions. Conclusion(s): Application of SprayGel in two animal models reduced formation of postoperative adhesions. Further investigation in large animal and clinical settings is warranted.