Tranexamic acid and hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose create cell injury.

Background And Objectives: Postoperative pelvic adhesions are associated with chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion prevention effects of tranexamic acid (TA) and hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC) barrier in the rat uterine horn models on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic adhesion scores and histopathological as well as biochemical parameters of inflammation.

Methods: Twenty-one Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Ten lesions were created on the antimesenteric surface of both uterine horns by bipolar cautery. Three milliliters of 0.9% sodium chloride solution were administered in the control group. A single layer of 2×2 cm HA/CMC was plated in group 2. Two milliliters of TA was applied in the last group. All rats were sacrificed at postoperative day 21.

Results: No significant difference was found among the control group, the HA/CMC group, and the TA group in terms of macro-adhesion score (P=.206) and microadhesion score (P=.056). No significant difference was found among the 3 groups in terms of inflammation score (P=.815) and inflammatory cell activity (P=.835). Malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the control group than in the TA group and HA/CMC group (P=.028). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities were found to be higher in the control group than in the TA group (P=.005) and HA/CMC group (P=.009).

Conclusions: TA and HA/CMC had no efficacy in preventing macroscopic or microscopic adhesion formation and decreasing inflammatory cell activity or inflammation score in our rat models. TA and HA/CMC increased the levels of free radicals and reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase enzymes, which act to reduce tissue injury.