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

Background: We evaluated the effects of local fax seed oil and glycerol application for reducing adhesion formation after thyroidectomy. Material/Method: 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 fax 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 fax 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 fax seed oil both decrease the incidence of post-thyroidectomy adhesion in rats, but glycerol is more effective. © Med Sci Monit, 2014.