ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of commonly used anti-adhesion products on the healing of abdominal muscles, and to provide guidance for surgeons to use anti-adhesion products in their clinical practice. Methods Adult SD rats were used. Except the sham group, surgical traumas were created on the serosal layer of the cecum and the underlying muscles of the abdominal wall. The wounds were covered without (Adhesion group) or with anti-adhesion products. Fourteen days after the surgery, the mechanical properties and histology of abdominal muscles were investigated to evaluate the healing of injured muscles. Results The ultimate tensile force and stiffness of the healing abdominal muscles in the groups of Polylactic acid membrane and Medical polyethylene glycol berberis lye were the same as those of normal muscles (P>0.05). The ultimate tensile force of the healing muscle in the groups of Chitosan gel and Seprafilm was significantly smaller than that of normal muscles (P0.05). The significant losses of mechanical properties of the healing muscles occurred in the Adhesion and Medical sodium hyaluronate gel group (P<0.05). HE staining indicated that more capillaries were found in Medical sodium hyaluronate gel, Polylactic acid membrane and Medical polyethylene glycol berberis lye group. The wound in Medical sodium hyaluronate gel group had less fibroblasts and fewer inflammatory cells, while the inflammatory cells were fully infiltrated with dense fibers in the other product groups. Conclusions Polylactic acid membrane and Medical polyethylene glycol berberis lye can promote abdominal muscle healing and are superior to Medical sodium hyaluronate gel, Chitosan gel and Seprefilm.