Seprafilm has been proven safe when used in bowel resection; however, it shouldn’t be wrapped directly around an anastamosis.1, 12

Adhesions are of particular concern following radical pelvic surgery, including resection of the small bowel, colon, and rectum, given the risk of adhesive small bowel obstruction.2,3 Adhesions may also complicate subsequent surgery (staged or unplanned) and limit future treatment options including laparoscopy, radiotherapy, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Adhesions may also lead to infertility and chronic pelvic pain.4-11

Seprafilm has been proven to reduce incidence, extent, and severity of adhesions in the abdominal and pelvic surgeries12, leading to

  • Reduced incidence of reoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction3 
  • Reduced reoperative complexity2,12 
  • Easier ileostomy reversal12 
  • A 74% reduction in the incidence of dense postoperative adhesions1

In a postmarket study, Seprafilm was proven safe when used in bowel resection (up to 10 sheets were used), even in the presence of a bowel anastomosis, and did not increase the complication rate when the bowel anastomosis was not wrapped.13

Seprafilm should not be wrapped around a bowel anastomosis. See Important Safety Information below.

Click here for relevant clinical studies

Seprafilm application sites in low anterior resection14,1,13

  • Traumatized descending colon
  • Pelvic peritoneal defect
  • Mesentery
  • Paracolic sidewall
  • Midline incision
  • Omentum

Seprafilm application sites in abdominoperineal resection16,1,13

  • Lateral to stoma site
  • Pelvic peritoneal defect
  • Paracolic sidewall
  • Mesentery
  • Midline
  • Omentum

Indication
Seprafilm® Adhesion Barrier is indicated for the reduction of post-surgical adhesions in patients undergoing abdominal or pelvic laparotomy.

Important Safety Information
Seprafilm should not be wrapped around an intestinal anastomosis as such usage may result in increased anastomotic leak related events, such as abscess or peritonitis. The safety and effectiveness of Seprafilm has not been established in combination with other adhesion prevention products and/or in surgical procedures not within the abdominopelvic cavity. The safety and effectiveness of Seprafilm has also not been evaluated in cases of pregnancy, malignancy, or frank infection. The type and frequency of adverse events reported are consistent with events typically seen following abdominopelvic surgery when used as directed.

Please see full prescribing information.

References

  1. Becker JM, Dayton MT, Fazio VW, et al. Prevention of postoperative abdominal adhesions by a sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane: a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter study. J Am Coll Surg. 1996;183(4):297-306.
  2. Kusunoki M, Ikeuchi H, Yanagi H, et al. Bioresorbable hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membrane (Seprafilm) in surgery for rectal carcinoma: a prospective randomized clinical trial. Surg Today. 2005;35(11):940-945.
  3. Fazio VW, Cohen Z, Fleshman JW, et al. Reduction in adhesive small-bowel obstruction by Seprafilm Adhesion Barrier after intestinal resection. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005;49(1):1-11
  4. Hershlag A, Diamond MP, DeCherney AH. Adhesiolysis. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1991;34(2):395-402.
  5. Mishell DR, Davajan V. Evalutation of the infertile couple. In: Mishell DR, Davajan V, Lobo RA, eds. Infertility, Contraception & Reproductive Endocrinology. 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1991:557-570.
  6. Stovall TG, Elder RF, Ling FW. Predictors of pelvic adhesions. J Reprod Med. 1989;34(5):345-348.
  7. Eifel PJ. Radiation therapy. In: Berek JS, Hacker NF, eds. Practical Gynecologic Oncology, 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004: 119-161.
  8. Nichols DH, Clarke-Pearson DL, eds. Gynecologic, Obstetric, and Related Surgery. 2nd ed. St Louis, MO: Mosby; 2000.
  9. Morales KJ, Gordon MC, Bates GW Jr. Postcesarean delivery adhesions associated with delayed delivery of infant. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196(5):461.e1-461.e6.
  10. Tulandi T, Agdi M, Zarei A, Miner L, Sikirica V. Adhesion development and morbidity after repeat cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;201(1):56.e1-56.e6.
  11. Ellis H, Moran BJ, Thompson JN, et al. Adhesion-related hospital readmissions after abdominal and pelvic surgery: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 1999;353(9163):1476-1480.
  12. Tang C-L, Seow-Choen F, Fook-Chong S, Eu K-W. Bioresorbable adhesion barrier facilitates early closure of the defunctioning ileostomy after rectal excision: a prospective randomized trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2003;46(9):1200-1207.
  13. Beck DE, Cohen Z, Fleshman JW, Kaufman HS, van Goor H, Wolff BG; for Adhesion Study Group Steering Committee. A prospective, randomized, multicenter, controlled study of the safety of Seprafilm® Adhesion Barrier in abdominopelvic surgery of the intestine. Dis Colon Rectum. 2003;46(10):1310-1319.
  14. Seprafilm Adhesion Barrier [package insert]. Cambridge, MA: Genzyme Biosurgery; 2008.

Applying Seprafilm

View a demonstration of common application techniques that may help when using Seprafilm.

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Physican Testimonials

Hear what your colleagues have to say about adhesive disease and Seprafilm Adhesion Barrier.