Sprayable Barrier Reduces Postoperative Adhesions

A barrier used to prevent adhesions has shown reduced surgical adhesion scores when applied immediately after the removal of uterine fibroids, according to a new study.

Adhibit, manufactured by Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (Vancouver, Canada), is a fully-synthetic, self-polymerizing liquid hydrogel that is safely metabolized by the body in less than 30 days. The solution only takes one minute to prepare and is easily applied with a spray system. It adheres to the tissue where it is applied and remains in place during the critical wound-healing period, when adhesions typically form. Adhibit is currently approved in the European Union for pediatric cardiac surgery.

In a clinical trial involving 71 patients who underwent myomectomy surgery--surgical removal of fibroids from the uterus---48 patients received the Adhibit treatment while a control group of 23 patients received no post-operative adhesion treatment. Patients were surgically re-examined eight to ten weeks post- procedure to determine the incidence and severity of adhesions. Patients in the group that were treated with Adhibit experienced a threefold reduction in their modified American Fertility Society (mAFS) score when compared with those in the control group. The study was conducted at six investigational sites in Europe, Canada, and the Netherlands Antilles. The results were presented at the 19th annual European congress of obstetrics and gynecology held in April 2006 in Turin (Italy).

"Consistent with preliminary results, we're encouraged and pleased that this data indicates Adhibit is safe and effective,” said Dr. Rui Avelar, chief medical officer at Angiotech. "Adhibit also proved itself to be easily delivered through a laparoscope, and has the potential to further advance minimally-invasive surgery in women.”

The modified American Fertility Society (mAFS) score is a scoring system that factors in both the extent and tenacity of adhesions. Adhesions typically occur 40-90% of the time after surgery, typically at the original surgery site.



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