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 format ion. Three different designs of polymer films were used in a standardi zed rat adhesion model in order to investigate which barrier form woul d be most efficacious in reducing adhesion formation. Neither non-poro us nor porous film reduced the adhesion formation as compared with con trol experiments. A bilayered film, however, composed of a porous unde rlayer and a non-porous toplayer, reduced the adhesion formation signi ficantly compared with control animals without a barrier. In the case of adhesion formation with this bilayered film the adhesions were limi ted to areas that were macroscopically not covered, either due to frac tures in or detachment of the barrier. Subsequently a more malleable p orous/dense film was designed which did not fracture and reduced the a dhesion formation significantly compared with animals treated with Int erceed(TM), even though some barriers detached as in the first experim ent. The porous/dense Polyactive(TM) barrier seems to be a promising a djuvant in the reduction of postoperative adhesion formation, although further research is needed to accomplish better attachment of the bar rier.