Significant adhesion reduction and time saving in pediatric heart surgery with 4DryField PH: A retrospective,
Robert Cesnjevar1, Ariawan Purbojo2, Claas Haake3
1Department for Heart Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Insights
Post-surgical adhesions in pediatric heart surgery were reduced using 4DryField® PH gel. This innovative barrier gel significantly shortened operation times and improved patient outcomes, demonstrating its safety and efficacy in young patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Postoperative adhesions are a significant complication following congenital heart defect surgery.
- Adhesions can lead to bleeding, injury to cardiac structures, and prolonged operation times.
- Detached adhesions can promote new adhesion formation, creating a cycle of complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of 4DryField® PH gel barrier in reducing postoperative adhesions in pediatric cardiac surgery.
- To assess the safety and impact on operation times of 4DryField® PH gel in this patient population.
- To confirm positive results from general and gynecological studies in the context of pediatric cardiac surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective controlled study involving 22 pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
- Adhesion scoring performed by an independent cardiac surgeon blinded to group assignment, using photographs from follow-up interventions.
- Evaluation of timesaving benefits resulting from reduced adhesion formation.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced adhesion scores were observed in the group treated with 4DryField® PH gel.
- A significantly shorter duration between skin incision and the start of cardiopulmonary bypass was achieved with 4DryField® use.
- The use of 4DryField® PH gel was deemed safe in pediatric patients, even at higher doses per kilogram compared to adults.
Conclusions:
- 4DryField® PH gel barrier is effective in reducing postoperative adhesions in pediatric cardiac surgery.
- The application of 4DryField® PH gel leads to significant reductions in operation times.
- 4DryField® PH gel represents a safe and beneficial adjunct for preventing adhesions in complex pediatric cardiac procedures.
Abstract:
Adhesions formation after surgery for congenital heart defects can complicate follow-up procedures due to bleeding from detached adhesion bands, injury to cardiac structures or large vessels, all of which do prolong operation times. The problem is enhanced by the fact that detached adhesions are predilection sites for new adhesions setting off a downward spiral. 4DryField® PH gel barrier has demonstrated high efficacy in reducing postoperative adhesions in general surgical and gynecological studies. This retrospective controlled study of 22 patients evaluates whether these positive results can be confirmed in pediatric cardiac surgery. Adhesions were scored from photographs of follow-up interventions by an independent cardiac surgeon blinded to group assignment. The publication provides not only score numbers but also original photographs of all sites for better traceability and transparency. In addition, timesaving due to reduced adhesions was evaluated. Results show a significantly reduced adhesion score for the 4DryField® group. Importantly, this resulted in a significantly shorter period between skin incision and start of cardiopulmonary bypass. In addition, timesaving due reduced adhesion formation was evaluated. The use of 4DryField® was safe, although higher doses per kg were used than in adults.
