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Prevention of postoperative adhesions with the chitin derivative N‐O‐carboxymethylchitosan
Author(s) -
Krause Tyrone J.,
Zazanis George A.,
McKin Randall D.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1046/j.1524-475x.1996.40110.x
Subject(s) - adhesion , tissue adhesion , chitin , medicine , extracellular matrix , fibrosis , surgery , chitosan , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry
The ideal barrier agent for the prevention of surgical adhesions has remained elusive. We have examined the ability of a new hydrogel N‐O‐carboxymethylchitosan, a derivative of chitin with properties similar to the extracellular matrix, to prevent adhesions when applied topically to traumatized mesothelial surfaces. In two rodent adhesion models (pericardial and peritoneal), the application of N‐O‐carboxymethylchitosan significantly prevented or minimized the formation of scar and fibrosis. According to a scoring system from 0 to 3 (0 = no adhesions and 3 = severe dense adhesions), control groups in each model consistently produced severe dense adhesions (2.9 ± 0.2, 2.7 ± 0.3). All treated groups consistently scored less than 1.0, indicating minimal or no fibrosis. The differences between the control and treated groups were statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Thus, the application of N‐O‐carboxymethylchitosan to traumatized mesothelial surfaces may have significant potential in the prevention of postoperative adhesion formation.