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Usefulness of moistening seprafilm before use in laparoscopic surgery
Izumi Kusuki1, Izumi Suganuma, Fumitake Ito
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Purpose:
Seprafilm is an ideal synthetic adhesion barrier, but its insertion into the abdomen in laparoscopic surgery is difficult because of its stiff and brittle nature. We tested the usefulness of a novel technique of moistening Seprafilm before use to increase its flexibility before insertion through a trocar during laparoscopic surgery.
Methods:
Laparoscopic pelvic surgeries that were followed by insertion of Seprafilm were evaluated in 67 women. A piece of Seprafilm (1/6 or 1/4 the size of a full sheet) was placed on gauze moistened with saline solution to soften it. The prepared piece was then rolled, inserted with forceps through a 12-mm trocar port, and placed at the intended site.
Results:
A total of 245 pieces of Seprafilm sheets were pretreated and inserted using a 12-mm trocar port with a success rate of 100% and placed correctly with a success rate of 80.0% (196 of the 245 pieces). The mean total time required for placement of all pieces per surgery was 601±248 seconds.
Conclusions:
This is a simple and effective technique that enables the film to be applied securely without breaking and without the need for special equipment.
