Do surgical packs cause peritoneal adhesions?

Area of Science:

• Surgical innovation
• Biomaterials science
• Surgical pathology

Background:

• Intraabdominal packs (sponges) are widely used in surgery.
• No published data exist on the adhesion-producing properties of surgical sponges.
• Peritoneal adhesions are a significant cause of postoperative morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adhesogenic potential of two commercially available surgical packs.
• To determine if the use of wet or dry sponges impacts adhesion formation.
• To establish a reliable animal model for testing surgical materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Porton rat model, known to reliably produce peritoneal adhesions.
• Conducted a randomized control trial comparing two brands of surgical packs.
• Assessed adhesion incidence in packs used both wet and dry.

Main Results:

• Both tested surgical pack brands induced a significant incidence of postoperative peritoneal adhesions.
• Adhesion formation was observed irrespective of whether the packs were used wet or dry.
• The Porton rat model proved effective for evaluating adhesogenic properties.

Conclusions:

• Commercially available surgical packs possess significant adhesogenic potential.
• The method of sponge use (wet or dry) did not alter adhesion formation.
• Mandatory preclinical animal model testing of intraabdominal products is recommended prior to marketing.