Adhesion Barrier

An adhesion barrier is a medical implant that can be used to reduce abnormal internal scarring (adhesions) following surgery by separating the internal tissues and organs while they heal.

Surgeons have realized that proper surgical technique is crucial to reduce adhesion formation. In addition, for more than a century, adjuvants have been used to this affect including drugs and materials such as animal membranes, gold foil, mineral oil, sheets made of rubber and Teflon. Nevertheless, adhesions do occur and appear to be, to some degree, an almost unavoidable consequence of abdominal and pelvic surgery. These adhesions can lead to significant post-surgical morbidity including bowel obstruction, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain or chronic abdominal pain.

Surgeons and healthcare professionals developed several methods for minimizing tissue injury in order to minimize the formation of adhesions. However, even an experienced surgeon using advanced techniques may not be able to prevent the formation of adhesions following surgery without the aid of an adhesion barrier. Consequently, many surgeons have come to apply adhesion barriers for adhesion prevention following abdominal and pelvic surgery.