Comparison of the effects of meloxicam and dexketoprofen on postoperative adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn surgical model.

Study Objective: To compare the effects of 2 nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs of different chemical classes (meloxicam and dexketoprofen) on postoperative intraabdominal adhesion formation in a rat model.

Design: Experimental study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Setting: Center for research and development.

Animals: Thirty female Wistar albino rats.

Interventions: The animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (10 rats per group) and received intramuscular injections of 0.5 mg/kg dexketoprofen (group 1), 0.5 mg/kg meloxicam (group 2), or 1 mL sterile saline solution (control; group 3) daily for 2 days. Laparotomy was performed, and 1 of the uterine horns was damaged via monopolar electrocautery, whereas an incision was made in the other horn using a scalpel and was sutured to promote adhesion formation. The surgeons were blinded to the treatment method. Drug administration was continued for 5 days. The animals were euthanized at 14 days after surgery.

Measurements And Main Results: Intraperitoneal macroscopic and microscopic adhesions were assessed using standard adhesion scoring systems. Macroscopic adhesion scores were similar among the 3 groups in each horn (p > .50). The total histologic score was significantly lower in the meloxicam group than in the control group (8.0 vs 15.5; p = .006). Dexketoprofen did not significantly affect the total histologic score (11.0 vs 15.5; p = .09) or individual items (i.e., inflammation, fibroblastic activity, foreign body reaction, collagen formation, and vascular proliferation) compared with the control group (p > .02). Meloxicam significantly inhibited inflammation and collagen formation compared with the control group (p < .02). Meloxicam was also significantly superior to dexketoprofen in reducing inflammation (p = .006).

Conclusion: Although meloxicam did not affect clinical adhesion formation, it significantly decreased histologic scores compared with those of the control group. Therefore, meloxicam may be suitable in reducing postoperative intraabdominal adhesion formation.