Evaluation of a fibrin preparation containing tranexamic acid (Adhexil) in a rabbit uterine horn model of adhesions with and without bleeding and in a model with two surgical loci.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a fibrin preparation supplemented with tranexamic acid (Adhexil) with that of established devices, and to determine whether its effect is limited to the site of application. DESIGN: Rabbit uterine horns were abraded in nonbleeding and bleeding variants of an established adhesions model. In a separate study, a sidewall excision with approximation of the abraded cecum was added. Animals randomly received Adhexil at both, neither, or either loci. SETTING: Laboratory study. ANIMAL(S): Seventy-two female New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). INTERVENTION(S): Adhexil, Seprafilm or SprayGel and Interceed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The extent of adhesions was evaluated 13 to 16 days after surgery. RESULT(S): Adhexil reduced adhesions (15 +/- 7%; 15 +/- 4%) compared with controls (74 +/- 13%; 78 +/- 9%) in the bleeding and nonbleeding models, respectively. The reductions resulting from the use of Seprafilm (39 +/- 17%; 34 +/- 14%) or SprayGel (61 +/- 18%; 43 +/- 14%) (n = 4) were not statistically significant. In the bleeding model, Interceed (48 +/- 15%) reduced adhesions only modestly. CONCLUSION(S): In the combined uterine and sidewall model, Adhexil reduced selectively the extent and incidence of adhesions. The absolute and relative performance of Adhexil in an established adhesions model and in the presence of bleeding justifies its further investigation.

Disorders of adhesions or adhesion-related disorder: monolithic entities or part of something bigger--CAPPS?

The purpose of this article is to review progress in the field of abdominopelvic adhesions and the validity of its two underlying assumptions: (1) The formation of adhesions results in infertility, bowel obstruction, or other complications. Reducing or avoiding adhesions will curb these sequelae. (2) "Adhesions" is a monolithic entity to be tackled without regard to any other condition. Evidence is discussed to validate the first assumption. We reviewed progress in the field by examining hospital data. We found a growing trend in the number and cost of discharges for just two adhesion-related diagnoses, and the low usage of adhesion barriers appears in at most 5% of appropriate procedures. Data from an Internet-based survey suggested that the problem may be partly due to ignorance among patients and physicians about adhesions and their prevention. Two other surveys of patients visiting the adhesions.org Web site defined more fully adhesion-related disorder (ARD). The first survey ( N = 466) described a patient with chronic pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, an average of nine bowel obstructions, and an inability to work or maintain family or social relationships. The second survey (687 U.S. women) found a high (co-) prevalence of abdominal or pelvic adhesions (85%), chronic abdominal or pelvic pain (69%), irritable bowel syndrome (55%), recurrent bowel obstruction (44%), endometriosis (40%), and interstitial cystitis (29%). This pattern suggests that although "adhesions" may start out as a monolithic entity, an adhesions patient may develop related conditions (ARD) until they merge into an independent entity where they are practically indistinguishable from patients with multiple symptoms originating from other abdominopelvic conditions such as pelvic or bladder pain. Rather than use terms that constrain the required multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial approach to these patients by the paradigms of the specialty related to the patient's initial symptom set, the term complex abdominopelvic and pain syndrome (CAPPS) is proposed. It is essential to understand not only the pathogenesis of the "initiating" conditions but also how they progress to CAPPS. In our ARD sample, not only was the frequency of women with hysterectomies (56%) higher than expected (21 to 33%), but also the rates of the "initiating" conditions was 40 to 400% higher in patients with hysterectomies than in those without. This may represent increased surgical trauma or the loss of protection against oxidative stress. Related was the higher frequency of ARD patients reporting hemochromatosis (HC; 5%) than expected (~0.5%) and the higher rates (20 to 700%) of initiating conditions in patients with HC than in those without HC. Together with findings related to the toxicity of Intergel, these findings raise the possibility that heterozygotes for genes regulating oxidative stress are at greater risk of developing surgical complications as well as more severe and progressive conditions such as CAPPS.

Next-generation hydrogel films as tissue sealants and adhesion barriers.

BACKGROUND: The development of conveniently sprayed, tissue-adherent, inert hydrogel films has made possible the creation of novel products that can serve a dual function, as a surgical sealant to achieve immediate hemostasis, and as a barrier to prevent adhesion formation over time. METHODS: A sprayable, in situ formed absorbable hydrogel film was evaluated as a tissue sealant in a heparinized canine carotid artery graft model. PTFE grafts with leaking end-to-side anastomoses were treated with the synthetic sealant, and hemostasis was evaluated upon restoration of blood flow. Also, the hydrogel films were evaluated as an adhesion barrier in a rabbit pericardial abrasion model. RESULTS: The sprayable, in situ forming hydrogel film was shown to immediately seal carotid-PTFE anastomoses in six of six applications. Hydrogel application in a rabbit pericardial abrasion model resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the number and tenacity of adhesions. CONCLUSIONS: This novel in situ formed sprayable hydrogel film has demonstrated a dual function as an effective tissue sealant and as an adhesion barrier in cardiovascular preclinical models. These next generation synthetic biomaterials are currently undergoing clinical investigations.