Adhesion Reduction Agent Guardix-SG^® Versus MegaShield^® for Postoperative Swallowing Function Analysis in...

Area of Science:

• Surgical innovation
• Medical device technology
• Postoperative care optimization

Background:

• Antiadhesion products are crucial for thyroidectomy patients, forming a barrier to prevent tissue adhesion.
• Thyroidectomy can cause swallowing difficulties due to tissue damage; antiadhesion agents may mitigate this.
• MegaShield® and Guardix-SG® are examples of antiadhesion agents used to reduce scar formation and improve swallowing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of MegaShield® versus Guardix-SG® as antiadhesion agents in post-thyroidectomy patients.
• To evaluate the impact of these agents on swallowing function and scar formation.
• To establish the noninferiority of MegaShield® to Guardix-SG®.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving patients undergoing thyroidectomy between October 2018 and March 2020.
• Patients were allocated 1:1 to receive either standard care with Guardix-SG® or MegaShield®.
• Swallowing function was assessed using Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), NIH-Swallow Safety Scale (NIH-SSS), VDS, and DIGEST via Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS).

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference (P > .05) was found between MegaShield® and Guardix-SG® for PAS and NIH-SSS across different food consistencies.
• Several statistically significant differences were observed when comparing MegaShield®, Guardix-SG®, and a nonadhesion-reducing agent control group across various swallowing assessment criteria.
• The study demonstrated specific improvements in swallowing function metrics for patients receiving antiadhesion agents.

Conclusions:

• MegaShield® is proven to be non-inferior to Guardix-SG® as an antiadhesion agent in the context of post-thyroidectomy care.
• Both agents contribute to reducing scar formation and potentially improving postoperative swallowing function.
• The findings support the use of MegaShield® as a viable alternative to Guardix-SG® for enhancing patient recovery after thyroidectomy.