Efficacy of glycerol and flax seed oil as anti-adhesive barriers after thyroidectomy

Abstract

Background: We evaluated the effects of local flax seed oil and glycerol application for reducing adhesion formation after thyroidectomy.

Material and methods: We randomly assigned 18 female Wistar albino rats (median weight: 275 g, median age: 4.5 mth) to 3 groups: 0.1 ml 0.9% NaCl, glycerol, and flax seed oil were sprayed in a perithyroidal area after thyroidectomy operation on all animals as anti-adhesive barriers. Rats were sacrificed on the postoperative 14th day and adhesions were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically.

Results: The median macroscopic adhesion score was 3.0±0.0 in the 0.9% NaCl group, 1.33±0.52 in the glycerol group, and 1.67±0.53 in the flax seed oil group. The median histopathological fibrosis scores were 2.33±0.82, 0.67±0.52, and 0.83±0.75, respectively. Both glycerol and flaxseed oil group macroscopic and microscopic scores were significantly lower than the 0.9% NaCl group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Glycerol and flax seed oil both decrease the incidence of post-thyroidectomy adhesion in rats, but glycerol is more effective.

Figure 1

Histopathological view of minimal fibrosis at grade-1 level adhesion (example from glycerol group).

Figure 2

Histopathological view of modarate level fibrosis at grade 2 level adhesion (example from flax-oil group).

Figure 3

Histopathological view of advanced fibrosis at grade 3 level adhesion (example from control group).