Effect of honey versus intergel in intraperitoneal adhesion prevention and colonic anastomotic healing: A randomized controlled study in rats

Introduction: Intra-abdominal adhesion formation and reformation after surgery are still an unavoidable event in spite of modern surgical techniques and are a cause of significant morbidity, resulting in infertility, pain and intestinal obstruction. Aim: To investigate the effect of honey in adhesion prevention and colonic anastomotic healing in rats. Methods: In the present study, 75 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into 3 groups for study: [25 rats for each], the intergel, honey and control groups. After the scheduled two-week's postoperative period, all survived rats were reopened for second-look laparotomy to detect the following parameters: a - adhesion, b - manometric study, c - histopathological study. Results: The author found that the total adhesion score, the manometric values and the histopathological study among the three studied groups showed statistically significant difference and in favor of the honey-treated rats. Conclusion: Honey surpasses the intergel for the healing power and adhesion prevention. (C) 2009 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.