Résumé
BACKGROUND: Pericardial adhesion poses a major problem during re-operative cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sodium carboxymethol cellulose on experimental pericardial adhesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into 2 groups of 12 rabbits each and pericardial mesothelial injury was induced by abrasion. Group A included rabbits receiving intrapericardial injection of Ringer's solution, and Group B included rabbits receiving intrapericardial injection of 3% sodium carboxymethoyl cellulose solution. Three weeks after the surgery, the incidence of adhesions in Group A was compared with that in Group B. RESULT: Pericardial adhesions were evaluated by tenacity and type scores. Tenacity scores of 3 or greater were considered clinically significant adhesion. Pericardial adhesion was found in 100% of rabbits in group A. However 25% of the rabbits in Group B had pericardial adhesions(p<0.0001). Type scores were also considered clinically significant between 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that intrapericardial injection of 3% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution reduced the incidence of pericardial adhesions in an animal models.