The effect of tranexamic acid in fibrin sealant on adhesion formation in the rat

The objective of the research was to determine the effect of the type, dose, and volume of anti‐fibrinolytic agents (tranexamic acid, aprotinin) added to fibrin formulations, on adhesion development. Adhesions were induced in 228 male rats by creating apposing parietal and visceral peritoneal defects. Animals were randomized to receive no treatment or a fibrin formulation containing aprotinin or tranexamic acid. Seven days later the incidence of adhesions, and the force and energy required to detach them, were determined. Adhesions developed in 13/13 rats in the control and aprotinin groups. Treatment with fibrin (100 mg/ml tranexamic acid) resulted in adhesions in 4/14 rats (as strips, p ≤ 0.0005), 4/10 rats (as spray, p ≤ 0.0036), and 12/15 rats (by drip). The reduction of adhesions was dependent on the concentration of tranexamic acid with strip and spray application. Using commercial formulations, tranexamic‐acid–containing fibrin (10/15, p = 0.042), but not aprotinin‐containing fibrin (13/15), reduced the incidence of side‐wall adhesions from 15/15 in controls. Fibrin containing either tranexamic or aprotinin reduced the incidence and severity of adhesions. This effect was greater when tranexamic acid was used and was dependent on the mode of administration, the volume, and to a degree, the concentration of tranexamic acid. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 68B: 222–230, 2004