Removal of surgical barriers of expanded polytetrafluorethylene at second-look laparoscopy was not associated with adhesion formation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the surgical trauma required for the laparoscopic removal of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surgical barrier would cause postoperative adhesions.


METHODS
Two case reports.


METHODS
Tertiary academic medical center.


METHODS
Two women who had undergone myomectomy with placement of a PTFE surgical barrier and who were free of adhesions with the barrier in place.


METHODS
Removal of the PTFE barrier by laparoscopy 11 days after myomectomy.


METHODS
Adhesions at the site of removal of the PTFE barrier at the time of incidental laparoscopy several years later.


RESULTS
Adhesions were not present at the site of PTFE barrier removal.


CONCLUSIONS
The surgical trauma required to remove PTFE barriers at early second-look laparoscopy was not associated with postoperative adhesions.
Haney
A F
AF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012086:Reoperation; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene