A hyaluronate based gel for the prevention of postsurgical adhesions: evaluation in two animal species.
OBJECTIVE
To assess in two animal surgery models, the efficacy of a bioabsorbable gel to prevent postoperative adhesions.


METHODS
A randomized, prospective, blinded study using animal abdominal surgery models.


METHODS
Two animals species with surgical traumas to induce adhesion formation.


METHODS
A chemically modified hyaluronate and carboxymethylcellulose-based gel formulation.


METHODS
The number of animals with no adhesions, mean number of adhesions, and total adhesion score.


RESULTS
Treatment with the bioabsorbable gel increased the number of animals without any adhesion by 70% in a rat cecal abrasion model and by > 90% in a rabbit sidewall defect-bowel abrasion model when compared with nontreatment control animals. Other outcome measures showed similar efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose gel was effective in two animal species after surgery in the abdominal cavity. The gel appears to act as a physical barrier between damaged peritoneal tissue and may be appropriate for human clinical trials in open and laparoscopic surgical procedures.
Burns
J W
JW
Biomaterials and Surgical Products Research Department, Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-1562, USA.
Skinner
K
K
Colt
M J
MJ
Burgess
L
L
Rose
R
R
Diamond
M P
MP
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D005782:Gels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid