Hyalobarrier® is a surgical product used to prevent adhesions after surgery in the abdomen and pelvic region. Adhesions, where bands of scar tissue form after surgery, are a common complication of many procedures and can cause pain and discomfort for patients. Prevention of this problem can improve patient outcomes and reduce the potential need for follow-up surgeries to address problems caused by adhesions. Clinical trials with Hyalobarrier® show it is highly effective and safe for use.
This product relies on a natural polymer found in the human body. Hyaluronic acid can be found throughout the connective tissue and is used in a wide range of medical products designed for different purposes. In the case of Hyalobarrier®, it is used to make a thick, viscous gel which can be applied during surgery to organs and tissues to act as an anti-adhesive barrier. Scar tissue cannot form artificial connections between internal structures with the gel in the way.
To use Hyalobarrier®, a surgeon performs the procedure and cleans the site, confirming it is ready for closure, before squeezing the gel into the pelvis or abdominal cavity and making sure it is sufficiently spread. Once the gel has been added, the site cannot be irrigated, because this would disturb the Hyalobarrier®. The surgeon can close the site and allow the patient to move to recovery. In the initial phases of healing, the early stages of adhesions cannot form as a result of the barrier, and the gel is absorbed within several days once the risk is reduced.
Much like absorbable sutures, the product stabilizes the tissue for a desired period of time and isn’t retained by the body, making it unlikely to cause future complications. It is not safe to use Hyalobarrier® in cases where patients have infections at the surgical site, a consideration if a surgeon is operating on something like a puncture wound that has become infected. There may be other contraindications in specific patient cases, like patients with an allergy to ingredients in Hyalobarrier®.
Surgeons can use Hyalobarrier® in both endoscopic and open surgeries. While applying the gel, they are cautious to maintain sterile technique to avoid contamination, and follow directions on the packaging carefully to ensure it is used correctly. If it is not appropriate for a specific case, the surgeon may consider other options for reducing the risk of adhesions to protect the patient during the healing phase after surgery.