Adhesion barrier
Encyclopedia
An adhesion barrier is a medical implant that can be used to reduce abnormal internal scarring (adhesions) following surgery
by separating the internal tissues and organs while they heal.
Prior to the availability of adhesion barriers, adhesions were documented to be an almost unavoidable consequence of abdominal and pelvic surgery. These adhesions can lead to significant post-surgical morbidity including bowel obstruction
, infertility
, and chronic pelvic pain.
Surgeons and healthcare professionals developed several methods for minimizing tissue injury in order to minimize the formation of adhesions. However, even an experienced surgeon using advanced techniques may not be able to prevent the formation of adhesions following surgery without the aid of an adhesion barrier. Consequently, many surgeons have come to rely upon adhesion barriers for adhesion prevention following abdominal and pelvic surgery.
Adhesion barriers, such as Seprafilm, are films that are applied between layers of tissues at the end of a surgery before the incision site is closed. Seprafilm is a clear, sticky film composed of chemically modified sugars, some of which occur naturally in the human body. It sticks to the tissues to which it is applied and is slowly absorbed into the body over a period of seven days. While in place, Seprafilm acts as a physical barrier that separates traumatized tissue surfaces so that they do not adhere to one another while the tissue surfaces heal. Other adhesion barriers, such as Interceed, work in much the same way, with varying degrees of efficacy over varying lengths of time. Other technologies can be to separate the organs with gels, like Intercoat or Hyalobarrier
.
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
by separating the internal tissues and organs while they heal.
Prior to the availability of adhesion barriers, adhesions were documented to be an almost unavoidable consequence of abdominal and pelvic surgery. These adhesions can lead to significant post-surgical morbidity including bowel obstruction
Bowel obstruction
Bowel obstruction is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines, preventing the normal transit of the products of digestion. It can occur at any level distal to the duodenum of the small intestine and is a medical emergency...
, infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
, and chronic pelvic pain.
Surgeons and healthcare professionals developed several methods for minimizing tissue injury in order to minimize the formation of adhesions. However, even an experienced surgeon using advanced techniques may not be able to prevent the formation of adhesions following surgery without the aid of an adhesion barrier. Consequently, many surgeons have come to rely upon adhesion barriers for adhesion prevention following abdominal and pelvic surgery.
Adhesion barriers, such as Seprafilm, are films that are applied between layers of tissues at the end of a surgery before the incision site is closed. Seprafilm is a clear, sticky film composed of chemically modified sugars, some of which occur naturally in the human body. It sticks to the tissues to which it is applied and is slowly absorbed into the body over a period of seven days. While in place, Seprafilm acts as a physical barrier that separates traumatized tissue surfaces so that they do not adhere to one another while the tissue surfaces heal. Other adhesion barriers, such as Interceed, work in much the same way, with varying degrees of efficacy over varying lengths of time. Other technologies can be to separate the organs with gels, like Intercoat or Hyalobarrier
Hyalobarrier
Hyalobarrier is a substance to keep tissue apart post surgery and therefore prevent adhesions. It contains autocross-linked hyaluronan. Highly viscous due to condensation. Hyaluronan is present in cartilage and skin hence there is a natural metabolic pathway for it...
.