Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Medicine Faculty of Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat

Background: Bioglass is a silica based biomaterial which is widely used for filling and augmentation of bone defects, in drug delivery systems, as a scaffold in tissue engineering, and for covering the surfaces of implant materials. With the hypothesis that silica content of Bioglass might cause pleural irritation similar to that of talc, we investigated the pleurodesing effect of Bioglass in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: Thirty New Zealand male rabbits weighing 2.5- 3 kg were randomly divided into three groups. Doses of 70 mg/kg Bioglass particulates and talc in 1 ml/kg saline solution were given through a left chest tube to two groups, while the third group only had a chest tube insertion. At the end of 28 days, pleural adhesions and lung parenchyma were evaluated by gross observation and histological examination. Results: Pleurodesing effect was significantly greater in talc- and Bioglass-administered rabbits compared to the controls (p=0.0001). Compared to Bioglass, talc had a more irritative effect on pleura, but its pleurodesing effect was not superior (p=0.971). There were no significant differences between talc and Bioglass with respect to parenchymal inflammation and fibrosis (p=0.075). Conclusion: Bioglass may prove to be an effective pleurodesing agent with comparable effectiveness to that of talc.