Adhesion formation is a frequent and serious post-operative problem in ENT surgery. This study assessed the effect of two anti-adhesive haemostatic agents on an experimental guinea pig model.

The middle-ear mucosa of 14 guinea pigs was exposed to surgical trauma. After surgery, Arista™ AH was injected into the right middle ear of seven animals, while Ankaferd Blood Stopper was injected into the right middle ear of the other seven animals. The left ears were left untreated and regarded as the control group. The three groups were compared by histological examination at post-operative week 4.

In each of the three groups, consolidation of the lamina propria and epithelium mucosae, increments in the number of active fibroblasts, collagen fibrils and inflammatory cells, and increased vascular dilation were observed on haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, and were more prominent in the control and Ankaferd Blood Stopper groups. Epithelial thickness and capillary vasodilation were significantly lower in the Arista™ AH group compared with the control and Ankaferd Blood Stopper groups (p < 0.008).

Arista™ AH may prevent the formation of adhesions in middle-ear surgery. Further experimental studies are required to determine its ototoxic potential.