Laparoscopic assessment of ovarian healing following CO2 laser microsurgery: Vicryl vs. Surgilon

A prospective multicenter study was undertaken by the Intraabdominal Laser Study Group to assess the type and extent of ovarian adhesions formed following incisional ovarian surgery performed as part of a fertility-promoting procedure with the aid of the carbon dioxide laser. Ovarian healing with subsequent adhesion formation was evaluated by early second-look laparoscopy. Two suture closing materials were used--Surgilon (siliconized braided nylon, David and Geck, Wayne, NJ) and Vicryl (polyglactin 910, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ). Sixty-five ovaries were evaluated in 37 patients with subsequent adhesions found in 37% (18/49) of the Surgilon-closed ovaries and in 94% (15/16) of the Vicryl-closed ovaries. The adhesions were filmy in 83% (15/18) of the Surgilon group and 47% (7/15) of the Vicryl group. Dense/vascular adhesions were found in 17% (3/18) of the Surgilon group and 53% (8/15) of the Vicryl group. The subsequent conception rates were 68% (17/25) in the Surgilon group and 33% (4/12) in the Vicryl group, although the small number of patients and multitude of infertility factors made pregnancy rate comparisons difficult. One of the authors noted lack of tensile strength in the Vicryl-closed ovaries within 12 weeks postlaser laparotomy, which led to incisional dehiscence during laparoscopic lysis of ovarian adhesions. From this preliminary study, it is concluded that additional data are needed to more fully resolve the debate on whether absorbable or nonabsorbable suture is preferred for ovarian infertility surgery.