Comparison of seprafilm and pitavastatin treatments in an experimental model of peritoneal adhesion

Peritoneal adhesions are common following abdominal surgery and lead to significant morbidity. Both pharmacological agents and barrier methods have been investigated for prevention, but with limited success. In this study, the efficacy of intraperitoneal pitavastatin was evaluated and compared with Seprafilm. Thirty-two female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): control, saline, pitavastatin (30 mg/kg intraperitoneal), and Seprafilm (30 × 20 mm). Macroscopic adhesions were graded using the Majuzi classification, and microscopic adhesions were assessed using the Zühlke scoring system. Plasma SCUBE1, malondialdehyde, and tissue-type plasminogen activator levels were analyzed. Macroscopic evaluation showed that adhesions were predominantly grade 2 in the control group (62.5%) and the saline group (75%). In contrast, a partial reduction in adhesion severity was observed in both the pitavastatin and Seprafilm groups; 25% of patients in both groups showed no adhesions (grade 0). Lower-grade adhesions (grades 1–2) were observed more frequently in these treatment groups. Microscopically, all rats in the control and Seprafilm groups were classified as stage 2 according to the Zühlke grading system. While grade 1 adhesions were predominantly observed in the saline group (87.5%), a broader distribution was observed in the pitavastatin group, including grade 1 (25%), grade 2 (50%), and grade 3 (25%) adhesions. Biochemical analysis revealed no significant differences among groups in plasma SCUBE1 (p = 0.294) and malondialdehyde levels (p = 0.051). However, plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator levels were significantly higher in the control group compared with both the pitavastatin (p = 0.012) and Seprafilm groups (p = 0.027). Intraperitoneal pitavastatin has demonstrated efficacy comparable to that of Seprafilm; however, neither treatment provided a statistically significant protective effect against postoperative peritoneal adhesions.