Thrombin as an adjuvant to reanastomosis of the fallopian tubes reduces implantations in the rabbit.

ABSTRACT

To study the efficacy of topically administered thrombin as an adjuvant in tubal microsurgery, 24 rabbits underwent a 1-cm resection and microsurgical anastomosis of both fallopian tubes and were randomized to either thrombin or cautery for hemostasis. Ovarian wedge biopsies were done on the left ovary. The animals were mated 4 to 5 weeks postoperatively with a buck of proven fertility. They were killed at 2 to 3 weeks' gestation to note the number of fetuses per patent tube and presence or absence of pelvic adhesions. There was no effect of topical thrombin on the crude pregnancy rate but it was associated with a marked reduction in the number of fetuses per patent tube, despite similar rates of pelvic adhesions between groups. Topically administered thrombin appeared to reduce fertility in this experimental model by an undefined mechanism.