Prevention of adhesions by bioresorbable tissue barrier following laparoscopic intraabdominal mesh insertion

Intraabdominal adhesions represent a significant problem because of the morbidity associated with adhesive disease, including small bowel obstruction, difficulties in reoperative surgery, and possibly chronic pain. Coating solution of sodium hyaluronate (Sepracoat; Genzyme Production-Surgical Products, Cambridge, MA) was studied in New Zealand white rabbits to determine its potential role for prevention of postoperative adhesions following laparoscopic intraabdominal mesh insertion. A 2-cm polypropylene mesh was inserted laparoscopically to the left iliac fossa and fixed to anterior abdominal wall using a single prolen suture. Group 1 (n = 10) acted as the control group. Mesh was coated using 4% sodium hyaluronate in phosphate buffered saline (Sepracoat) in Group 2 (n = 10). Fourteen days later, all animals underwent diagnostic laparoscopy, and findings were recorded. All animals then were killed, the abdominal cavities were inspected, and adhesions were graded from 0 to 4. All meshes were removed and sent for histologic examination. The degrees of inflammation, fibrosis, and congestion were scored. No adhesions were seen on trocar sites on both groups. Eight of 10 animals in the control group and 5 of 10 animals in the study group had intraabdominal adhesions. The scoring of adhesions revealed that study group had only one (10%) significant adhesion, whereas the control group had eight (80%; < 0.001). Our study suggests that the Sepracoat reduces the incidence and severity of abdominal adhesions following laparoscopic mesh insertion and should be considered as a prophylactic agent, especially in those undergoing laparoscopic transabdominal mesh repair for hernia.