Comparison of a novel liquid (Adcon-P®) and a sodium hyaluronate and carboxymethylcellulose membrane (Seprafilm™) in postsurgical adhesion formation in a murine model

PURPOSE: Intra-abdominal administration of antiadhesive barriers may reduce the extent and severity of postoperative adhesions. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a novel liquid antiadhesive barrier with a conventional sheet (Seprafilm™) antiadhesive barrier in a murine cecal abrasion model. METHODS: One hundred fifty Swiss-Wister mice underwent laparotomy and cecal abrasion and were randomly assigned to receive Adcon-P® (n = 30) or Seprafilm™ (n = 30) or to a control group (n = 90). At postoperative Day 21, the mice underwent relaparotomy and complete adhesiolysis. An investigator who was blinded to the group assignment scored the extent of adhesion formation and the difficulty of adhesiolysis using a 6-point scale that ranged from 0 (no adhesions) to 5 (full-thickness intestinal injury with adhesiolysis). Results are reported as median (range). RESULTS: Median adhesion scores in mice receiving Adcon-P® (0 (range, 0-1)) and Seprafilm™ (1 (range, 0-3)) were lower than in mice in the control group (2 (range, 0-5); P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). In addition, the median adhesion score for the Adcon-P® group was significantly lower than that of the Seprafilm™ group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that both Adcon-P® and Seprafilm™ decrease the incidence of postoperative adhesions and the difficulty of adhesiolysis in the murine cecal abrasion model. However, Adcon-P® appeared to be superior to Seprafilm™. This agent is an attractive device that requires additional studies.