Efficacy of adhesion barriers. Resorbable hydrogel, oxidized regenerated cellulose and hyaluronic acid.
OBJECTIVE
To compare a novel resorbable hydrogel barrier with two previously studied barriers, oxidized regenerated cellulose and hyaluronic acid, for the prevention of postoperative adhesions.


METHODS
Two models were employed in the rat uterine horn, one of adhesion formation after devascularization and serosal injury and one of adhesion reformation after adhesiolysis


RESULTS
In the devascularization model, hydrogel treatment reduced the mean extent of adhesion formation from 73% in the control group to 13% (P < .005). Hyaluronic acid pretreatment reduced the extent of adhesion formation to 44% (P < .05), while oxidized regenerated cellulose failed to reduce formation (P > .25). In the adhesiolysis model, treatment with the hydrogel reduced the mean extent of adhesion formation from 87% in the control group to 20% (P < .005). Neither the oxidized regenerated cellulose nor the hyaluronic acid treatments lowered the extent of adhesion formation from the control group (P > .25). The hydrogel barrier was observed to be resorbed over a five-day period and remained adherent to the tissue during resorption.


CONCLUSIONS
Resorbable hydrogel barriers are highly effective in the reduction of adhesion formation and reformation in the rat. This probably due to the good biocompatibility and retention of these materials upon the site of application.
West
J L
JL
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, USA.
Chowdhury
S M
SM
Sawhney
A S
AS
Pathak
C P
CP
Dunn
R C
RC
Hubbell
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002482:Cellulose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*
D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002482:Cellulose; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid