Surgeons have a number of products available to reduce the risk of scarring, including synthetic agents. It is their responsibility to inform patients of the potential benefits and risks of the use of these products before a procedure is carried out.
Synthetic barrier products may reduce the risk of replicating faults membranes covering your vital organs. When the delicate surfaces of your organs to make contact with each other during the surgery, especially abdominal and pelvic surgeries-tissues may join together.
Trauma surgery often leads to the formation of scar tissue, which eventually can cause the intestines to twist, pull, twist or become blocked. A strangulated intestine part could be solved under strict medical supervision. A block is a medical emergency, which often require immediate surgery. Adhesions after abdominal or pelvic surgery can also cause infertility in women. Severe abdominal pain, nausea, loud sounds of the intestine and swelling are common symptoms of adhesions.
In combination with safe surgical technique operational barriers can reduce the risk of formation of scars and pain. During the abdominal or pelvic surgery, made of synthetic barrier sheets of regenerated cellulose, polytetrafluoroethylene or fibrin can be applied to the abdominal or pelvic tissues to keep separate body surfaces. While some commonly used products, such as Gore-Tex, it needs to be sutured in place and removed during a proceeding separated Interceed Seprafilm, both products and Johnson & Johnson, are absorbed into the body after surgery. Note * insurance often does not compensate for the use of barrier products, transferring financial responsibility to the patient.
A review of 2008, published in the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews compared the results of 16 clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of four barrier products to prevent adhesions in women subjected to pelvic surgery. Reviewers assessed the results of the use of Gore-Tex, Interceed, Seprafilm and fibrin. In most tests, Gore-Tex was more effective than Interceed or no obstacles to prevent adhesions after surgery. Further clinical studies have shown that Interceed Seprafilm and can reduce the risk of abdominal and pelvic adhesions if they are used properly.
SprayShield adhesion barrier system, currently available only in Europe, protects internal tissues through the application of a spray of Hydrogel. The barrier of Hydrogel, which turns blue, on request, so that surgeons can view areas covered, maintains separate body surfaces both during and after the surgery, while the tissues heal. After the healing time required, the material is absorbed by the body and excreted by the kidneys into the urine. Although the SprayShield barrier system is performed well in preclinical studies in United States and from 2008 is available for patients in Europe, the product has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.
Risks of using surgical barriersHow stitches, gauze sponges or any other material used during surgery, reef agents can cause inflammation and scarring when used incorrectly. If a barrier is wadded, folded or applied in layers, the material may induce adhesions. Barriers should not be applied to infected tissues or areas that were contaminated. Because every body reacts differently to foreign materials can cause reactions to these synthetic membranes. The removal of a non-absorbable barrier after surgery can pose a risk of further training.
Who is responsible for preventing pain of accession?Synthetic agents are not foolproof measures barrier to prevent scarring, but if used correctly, these products may reduce the risk of a condition often painful, potentially lethal, known as adhesion related disorder (ARD). Medical professionals are responsible for the use of these products, to educate patients on how to form adhesions and to inform patients of the risk of scarring before surgery.
Product on their sites, Ethicon Johnson, the company that produces the & Johnson absorbable barrier Interceed Seprafilm and advises patients to question their surgeon prior to surgery about the risk of formation of adhesion and signs and symptoms of adhesions after surgery. In fact, how many patients are likely to visit these web sites before surgery? It is realistic to expect patients to conduct research on barrier agents or other highly specialized surgical products?
In fact, the responsibility for raising the risk of scarring and consider ARD as a reasonable explanation for the pain-postoperative adhesion belongs to surgeons and other healthcare professionals, patients. It is their duty and part of their ethical commitment to promote awareness of the risk of adhesion and listen carefully to the concerns of their patients before and after surgery.
Sources
Cochrane Library: Review: barrier agents for adhesion prevention after gynaecological surgery; Ahmad gaity, et al.; April 16, 2008. "Journal of reproductive medicine: prevention of postoperative adhesion with an oxidized regenerated cellulose adhesion barrier in infertile women. T. Sawada, et al.; May 2000.
Pelvic health solutions: Overview: Gynecare Interceed.
Reuters.com: Covidien introduces SprayShield adhesion barrier system to the European market.
Karen Steward
Karen Steward is a writer and author. His daughter, Melissa, was misdiagnosed at age 13 and suffered debilitating pain for 14 years before she and her mother finally learned that she was affected by adhesions. After a trip to Europe in 2003 for a third surgery, Melissa is now well. She is married and the proud mother of two children. Karen works tirelessly to promote awareness of ARD. She is the author of the book, doctors: bound by secrecy? Victims: bound by pain! * Karen is not a doctor, nor she provides medical advice. Its articles are written as a result of years of study and research. It is his desire that no other child suffers as his daughter has undergone, so she spends most of his time and energy to educate the public about adhesions. See: http://www.karensteward.com/.