Efficacy of simvastatin in reducing postoperative adhesions after thyroidectomy: an experimental study

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate whether simvastatin had any impact on the prevention of adhesion formation after thyroidectomy in a rat model.

Methods: This study was performed in 66 Wistar albino rats randomized into three experimental groups. A right hemithyroidectomy was carried out in all the rats. Simvastatin was administered locally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg and 0.8 mg/kg. Control rats received a saline solution only. Changes during the 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month were evaluated. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by using a scoring system.

Results: The severity of adhesions in low-dose simvastatin group was significantly less than the control and high-dose groups during the 1st and 3rd month (p < .05). In addition, adhesions were less in the high dose group during the 3rd month, when compared to the control group (p < .05). Moreover, fibrosis and fibroblast scores, which represent adhesions, were significantly lower in low-dose and high-dose groups at 3rd month, compared to controls (p < .05).

Conclusions: We investigated the influence of simvastatin application on post-thyroidectomy adhesion formation in rats. Whether adhesions, causing technical difficulties during neck redo surgery, can be reduced by the use of simvastatin in human, needs to be studied.

Keywords:

• Head and neck
• endocrine
• thyroid surgery

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank technicians Mr. Ismail Zonguldak, Mr. Caglar Uz and Mr. Bulent Ata from Ege University, Department of Experimental Surgery, for technical assistance during the experimental procedures.

The experiment protocol was approved by Ege University Experimental Ethics Committee and Ege University, Department of Experimental Surgery. The experiment complies with the current laws of the Turkish Republic.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.