Evaluation of a bioresorbable hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membrane for prevention of experimentally induced abdominal adhesions in horses.
Authors: Mueller P O, Hay W P, Harmon B, Amoroso L
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Adhesion Prevention in Equine Abdominal Surgery Post-operative adhesion formation remains a significant complication following equine colic surgery, often leading to recurrent colic and repeated laparotomy. Mueller and colleagues investigated whether a bioresorbable hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membrane could reduce adhesion development by applying it to surgically traumatised jejunal tissue in 12 horses—six treated with the membrane and six controls—following experimental jejunal resection, anastomosis, and deliberate serosal abrasion; all horses were euthanised at 10 days post-operatively for evaluation. Every control horse developed intra-abdominal adhesions (including fibrous adhesions at both abrasion sites in five animals), whilst only one treated horse developed adhesions, a statistically significant reduction (P <0.0034). For equine surgeons managing high-risk patients or those undergoing multiple intestinal procedures, this membrane offers a practical anti-adhesion strategy that warrants consideration as an adjunctive approach to minimise recurrent colic from adhesive complications, though longer-term clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness in field conditions remain to be established.
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Practical Takeaways
- •HA-carboxymethylcellulose membranes show promise for reducing postoperative adhesion formation in equine abdominal surgery, particularly in high-risk cases with significant serosal trauma
- •Consider membrane application during intestinal surgery (anastomosis, resection) to potentially decrease postoperative colic from adhesions
- •Results are from a controlled experimental model with short-term follow-up (10 days); clinical application in field cases warrants further investigation
Key Findings
- •All 6 control horses developed intra-abdominal adhesions compared to only 1 of 6 treated horses (P = 0.0034)
- •HA-membrane application to jejunal anastomoses and abraded serosal surfaces significantly reduced adhesion formation in an experimental trauma model
- •Fibrous adhesions were associated with jejunal abrasion sites in 5 of 6 untreated horses versus minimal adhesions in treated group