Use of bioresorbable membrane to prevent postoperative small bowel obstruction in transabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy of Seprafilm (Genzyme, Cambridge, MA, USA), a bioresorbable membrane, in preventing or reducing early postoperative small bowel obstructions after transabdominal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. Methods. Fifty-one patients underwent aortic reconstruction via a midline transperitoneal approach for infrarenal AAAs. Twenty-one patients underwent surgery with Seprafilm (Seprafilm group) and the remaining 30 patients did not (control group). The incidence of early small bowel obstruction was examined, and the time before liquid and solid diet were resumed was also compared to assess postoperative paralytic ileus. Results. Patients in the Seprafilm group resumed a liquid diet on postoperative day (POD) 2.4 +/- 1.1 and a solid diet on POD 4.0 +/- 1.3, whereas the patients in the control group resumed a liquid diet on POD 3.3 +/- 1.9 and a solid diet on POD 5.4 +/- 3.4. These values were not significantly different between the two groups; however, the incidence of early postoperative small bowel obstruction was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the Seprafilm group (0/21) than in the control group (6/30). Conclusion. These findings suggest that Seprafilm may help to prevent early postoperative small bowel obstructions after transabdominal AAA surgery.