New Gel Technology Reduces Sinus Surgery Complications

An innovative gel-like wound dressing improves healing, controls bleeding, and prevents adhesions following sinus surgery.

Developed by researchers University of Adelaide (Australia), the University of Otago (Wellington, New Zealand), and Robinson Squidgel (Wellington, New Zealand), the chitosan-dextran gel technology, dubbed Squidgel, has been shown in animal studies to provide hemostasis and aid in wound-healing following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). A human trial has also demonstrated that the chitosan-dextran gel resulted in rapid hemostasis immediately after FESS and fewer postoperative adhesions.

The new gel has the potential to assist in some half a million FESS operations to relieve sinusitis performed each year in the United States alone, solving the disheartening problem of postoperative adhesions that affect roughly one third of all sinus-related operations. The new gel is inserted into the nasal passage and it forms a coating over the wound so that adhesions cannot form, and also helps to stop bleeding with its superior blood clotting properties. The gel also has potential to be adapted with further research for other surgical procedures, such as brain and abdominal surgery.

"In the past, surgeons would pack the nose with ribbon gauze to stop the bleeding and prevent adhesions,” said codeveloper Professor of Otolaryngology Peter John Wormald, MD, of the University of Adelaide. "Unfortunately, this was very uncomfortable and painful for patients. This new gel is placed into the sinuses after surgery and is very effective in controlling bleeding. The gel slowly dissolves over two weeks, allowing the sinuses to heal properly, preventing scar tissue from forming in the nose.”

"The chitosan-dextran gel technology would enhance Medtronic's ability to offer innovative, therapeutic products for sinus surgeons to use in postoperative patient care,” said Mark Fletcher, president of the ENT division of the surgical technologies business of Medtronic (Minneapolis, MN, USA), which acquired the patent to the new Squidgel. "As a leader in the FESS market, we're pleased to have the opportunity to expand our FESS product portfolio.”

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). It is produced commercially by deacetylation of chitin, which is the structural element in the exoskeleton of crustaceans, such as crabs, shrimp, squid, etc., as well as from the cell walls of fungi.

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University of Adelaide
University of Otago
Medtronic