PREVENTING POSTOPERATIVE INTRAPERITONEAL ADHESION FORMATION WITH POLYACTIVE(TM), A DEGRADABLE COPOLYMER ACTING AS A BARRIER

In this study a degradable barrier, composed of a poly(ethyleneglycol) and poly(butyleneterephthalate) copolymer (1000 Polyactive(TM) 55/45), was investigated for the prevention of postoperative adhesion formation. Three different designs of polymer films were used in a standardized rat adhesion model in order to investigate which barrier form would be most efficacious in reducing adhesion formation. Neither non-porous nor porous film reduced the adhesion formation as compared with control experiments. A bilayered film, however, composed of a porous underlayer and a non-porous toplayer, reduced the adhesion formation significantly compared with control animals without a barrier. In the case of adhesion formation with this bilayered film the adhesions were limited to areas that were macroscopically not covered, either due to fractures in or detachment of the barrier. Subsequently a more malleable porous/dense film was designed which did not fracture and reduced the adhesion formation significantly compared with animals treated with Interceed(TM), even though some barriers detached as in the first experiment. The porous/dense Polyactive(TM) barrier seems to be a promising adjuvant in the reduction of postoperative adhesion formation, although further research is needed to accomplish better attachment of the barrier.