Reduction in adhesive small-bowel obstruction by Seprafilm® adhesion barrier after intestinal resection

  • Victor W. Fazio
  • , Zane Cohen
  • , James W. Fleshman
  • , Harry Van Goor
  • , Joel J. Bauer
  • , Bruce G. Wolff
  • , Marvin Corman
  • , Robert W. Beart
  • , Steven D. Wexner
  • , James M. Becker
  • , John R.T. Monson
  • , Howard S. Kaufman
  • , David E. Beck
  • , H. Randolph Bailey
  • , Kirk A. Ludwig
  • , Michael J. Stamos
  • , Ara Darzi
  • , Ronald Bleday
  • , Richard Dorazio
  • , Robert D Madoff
  • Lee E. Smith, Susan Gearhart, Keith Lillemoe, Jonas Göhl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

297 Scopus citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Although Seprafilm® has been demonstrated to reduce adhesion formation, it is not known whether its usage would translate into a reduction in adhesive small-bowel obstruction. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, multicenter, multinational, single-blind, controlled study. This report focuses on those patients who underwent intestinal resection (n = 1,701). Before closure of the abdomen, patients were randomized to receive Seprafilm® or no treatment. Seprafilm® was applied to adhesiogenic tissues throughout the abdomen. The incidence and type of bowel obstruction was compared between the two groups. Time to first adhesive small-bowel obstruction was compared during the course of the study by using survival analysis methods. The mean follow-up time for the occurrence of adhesive small-bowel obstruction was 3.5 years. RESULTS: There was no difference between the treatment and control group in overall rate of bowel obstruction. The incidence of adhesive small-bowel obstruction requiring reoperation was significantly lower for Seprafilm® patients compared with no-treatment patients: 1.8 vs. 3.4 percent (P < 0.05). This finding represents an absolute reduction in adhesive small-bowel obstruction requiring reoperation of 1.6 percent and a relative reduction of 47 percent. In addition, a stepwise multivariate analysis indicated that the use of Seprafilm ® was the only predictive factor for reducing adhesive small-bowel obstruction requiring reoperation. In both groups, 50 percent of first adhesive small-bowel obstruction episodes occurred within 6 months after the initial surgery with nearly 30 percent occurring within the first 30 days. Additionally no first adhesive small-bowel obstruction events were reported in Years 4 and 5 of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The overall bowel obstruction rate was unchanged; however, adhesive small-bowel obstruction requiring reoperation was significantly reduced by the use of Seprafilm®, which was the only factor that predicted this outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalDiseases of the colon and rectum
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2006

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Supported by a grant from Genzyme Corporation, which manufacturers Seprafilm.

Keywords

  • Abdominal surgery
  • Adhesion formation
  • Adhesive small-bowel obstruction
  • Carboxymethyl-cellulose
  • Seprafilm®
  • Sodium hyaluronate

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