title: A hydrogel for adhesion prevention: characterization and efficacy study in a rabbit uterus model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative peritoneal adhesions following gynaecological surgery remain a clinically relevant problem. One approach to prevent adhesion formation is to apply physical barriers such as hydrogels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A physically crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethylcellulose (PVA/CMC) hydrogel (A-Part) was characterized in vitro. Three different traumatization methods were evaluated in a rabbit uterine study. To determine its anti-adhesion efficacy, the hydrogel was first tested in an in vivo pilot study and then in a larger trial to compare it with icodextrin 4% solution (Adept) and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rheological measurements showed an increased elasticity of the hydrogel after freezing. In vivo experiments revealed a clear reduction in incidence, extent and severity of adhesions compared to the icodextrin 4% solution and the untreated control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results warrant further investigation of the PVA/CMC A-Part hydrogel in clinical trials focused on gynaecological procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sascha A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.forename: Erich K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Odermatt
authors.forename: Hanns-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Knaebel
authors.forename: Moritz N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Wente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D011817:Rabbits; D012212:Rheology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium