Prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesions by O- carboxymethyl chitosan in a rat cecal abrasion model

Purpose: Post-surgial adhesion formation can result in sig-nificant morbidity and mortality. N,O-carboxymethyl chi-tosan (N,O-CMC) has been previously shown to be effec-tive in the prevention of postsurgical adhesion formation. In this study, we evaluated the ability of O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC), another chitosan derivative generated by carboxymethylation of chitosan's oxygen centers, to reduce postsurgical adhesion development. Methods: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 ± 20 g) were divided into two equal groups: O-CMC group and saline (control) group. All rats underwent a midline lapa-rotomy and the cecum was abraded to cause petechial hemorrhages. Following peritoneal injections of either sa-line or O-CMC, the incisions were closed. Seven days afte