Icodextrin reduces postoperative adhesion formation in rats without affecting peritoneal metastasis

Background. Peroperative peritoneal trauma activates a cascade of peritoneal defense mechanisms responsible for postoperative adhesion formation. The same cascade seems to play a role in the Process of intra-abdominal tumor recurrence. Icodextrin is a glucose polymer solution that is absorbed slowly from the peritoneal cavity, allowing prolonged "hydroflotation" of the viscera, thereby decreasing adhesion formation. This study evaluated the adhesion-preventing Properties of icodextrin and its effect on peritoneal metastasis. Methods. Reproducible rat models of peritoneal trauma were used, allowing semiquantitative scoring of adhesion formation or tumor load. In one experiment, Peritoneal trauma was inflicted; one group was treated by peroperative intra-abdominal instillation of 7.5% icodextrin, one by instillation of RPMI (placebo), and one had no instillate (controls). In another experiment involving a different model of peritoneal trauma, the coloncarcinoma cell line CC531 was injected intraperitoneally to induce tumor load, again using these three groups. Results. Treatment of peritoneally traumatized rats with icodextrin caused a 51% reduction in postoperative adhesion formation (P < .001). However, peroperative intra-abdominal treatment with icodextrin did not affect intraperitoneal tumor cell adhesion and growth of free intra-abdominal tumor cells in rats with this model of severe peritoneal trauma. Conclusion. A 7.5% icodextrin solution is effective in reducing postoperative adhesions without promoting tumor recurrence and therefore may prove useful and safe in oncologic surgery.