Abstract

Although various agents are used for purpose of pleurodesis, studies to find the most ideal agent have been continuing. We aimed in this study to find out pleurodesis forming effect of collagen which can be used in surgery as local haemo - static agent and to compare its effect with another agent talc.

In a group of rats (n=10) 1 cc collagen (80 mg/cc) and in a second group (n=10) 1 cc talc (200 mg/kg) were applied into the left side pleura via thoracenthesis under mild ether anesthesia in a total of 20 rats. Control group consisted of the right side pleural cavities of these rats. The subjects were sacrified after an average of 32 days. Both hemithoraces were opened and pleural adhesions were macroscopically evaluated. Scoring was defined as; 0: No adhesio; 1: Adhesion in a few areas (3 or less); 2: Adhesion in a lot of areas (more than 3). Samples from both lungs and pleural tissues were taken for histopathological examination.

Pleural adhesivenesses were observed in most of the rats in both groups (p<0.05). Macroscopic adhesions and micro - scopic fibrosis rates between pleural layers were similar in both groups (p>0.05).

It is concluded that collagen may be a useful agent in forming pleurodesis.