An effective new method for the placement of an anti-adhesion barrier film using an introducer in laparoscopic surgery

Excerpt

Postoperative small bowel obstruction (SBO) is one of the serious complications of abdominopelvic surgery. One of the major causes of SBO is the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions. The rate of SBO is reportedly 2–6 % in laparoscopic surgery, although it is lower than in laparotomy [1, 2]. Furthermore, peritoneal and bare pelvic floor defects after resection of the rectum are observed after abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer, and they cause postoperative wide adhesions of the small intestine to the pelvic floor. An anti-adhesion barrier film (Seprafilm™; Genzyme, Cambridge, MA, USA) is a surgical material used to inhibit postoperative adhesions between intraperitoneal organs and the peritoneum. However, since Seprafilm tears easily or adheres to moist surgical instruments and the operative field, it is especially difficult to handle Seprafilm and place it exactly at the target site during laparoscopic surgery. In this short report, we introduce a novel technique for applying Seprafilm to the target site easily and precisely during laparoscopic surgery. …